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Some Thoughts, Some Humor, Some Scripture on Age,
Etc.
Sunrises are beautiful (if you can get up
that early). But have you ever wondered why sunsets are more beautiful?
The reason is quite simple. What you are
seeing when you see a colorful sunrise or sunset is the reflection of the sun
off of clouds and the various debris in the atmosphere. As the light hits
different objects it gets dispersed, similar to the way light gets separated
into the different shades as it passes through a spectroscope--or as you see
when you look at a rainbow.
During the day things get heated up: the
sun causes things to dry out and dust to rise. The trials and turmoil of the
day create commotion. The commotion, the activity of both mankind and animals
stirs up dust.
At night God sends His refreshing dew to
settle things down. The whole world "settles down". People are
generally calmer in the morning. Everything is more peaceful before the
problems of the day arise.
So sunrises are beautiful; but they
mostly reflect light only off of clouds. But sunsets have their light
shattered by millions of new dust particles, as well as the clouds, creating
much more beauty.
Everyone loves a baby! Most everyone
thinks a baby is beautiful. A baby, like the new day, is fresh and innocent.
Then the baby grows. The pressures of
growing, learning, living create stress as well as growth. As the baby (then
child, then adult) goes through the trials and turmoil of living; one of two
things happens.
Some of us get more and more bitter as we
grow older. Others become more and more mellow.
The "dust particles" of life
make some folks look worse and worse as they get older. Others, however, grow
more and more beautiful.
Everyone knows at least a few people who
are very old, but very beautiful.
Every church has a few senior, senior
citizens who are absolutely gorgeous. I'm talking about folks who are 80 or 90
or more. As the "dust particles" have impacted their lives; they
have developed a countenance as beautiful as a rainbow--or a sunset. When you
look in the face/eyes of such a person, it's almost as if you are looking into
the eyes of God. You are, actually. You can see His light shining through
their face.
A sunrise if beautiful. A sunset is much
prettier.
A baby is beautiful. But no baby is as
beautiful as a person who has grown old while living a goodly, Godly life
their whole life!
Our society is the first major
civilization to glorify youth at the expense of age. The 18-20 Miss America
types are nice. But a woman who has experienced some living and understands
life has so much more to offer. Especially if she has lived a righteous life.
(Same principle is true for men; but I happen to think women are prettier!)
There are some beautiful people there. If
you are over 50 yourself, please take a look. Even if you are not yet 50, take
a look anyway. You can analyze the ads from the standpoint of "deciding
who YOU want to be as YOU grow older.
What will your own sunset be like?
Will you be more beautiful as you get
older than you were as a baby? More beautiful than you are today?
Everybody wants to live a long time, but
no one wants to get old.
"Is not wisdom found among the aged?
Does not long life bring understanding?" Job 12:12.
Most people like the old days best--they
were younger then.
A person's mistakes always bother
him/her; especially when one realizes he or she is too old to repeat them.
A person is usually as young as he feels,
but seldom as indispensable.
The time tested method of slowing down
advancing age seems to be misrepresentation.
"Blessed is the man who finds
wisdom, the man who gains understanding." Proverbs 3:13.
Age is the best possible fire
extinguisher for flaming youth.
Sixty five is when one acquires
sufficient experience to lose his job.
You can judge your age by the amount of
pain you feel when you come in contact with a new idea.
The awkward age is when you are too old
for the Peace Corps and too young for Social Security.
"And if you walk in My ways and obey
My statutes and commands....I will give you long life." I Kings 3:14.
Regardless of their age, most folks
aren't as old as they hope to become.
Some people think the proper age for a
man to begin thinking about marriage is when he's old enough to realize he
shouldn't.
By all means, go ahead and mellow with
age. Just beware of getting rotten.
"You will come to the grave in full
vigor, like sheaves gathered in season." Job 5:26.
A California woman says her ex-husband is
at the dangerous age when all women look alike to him--desirable!
Age has nothing to do with learning new
ways to do stupid things.
As a person gets older he suspects that
nature is plotting against him for the benefit of doctors and dentists.
Hardening of the heart ages people more
quickly than hardening of the arteries.
"The fear of the Lord adds length to
life; but the years of the wicked are cut short." Proverbs 10:27.
The dangerous age is anytime between one
and ninety-nine.
People usually feel they've reached fifty
prematurely.
Many of us are at the "metallic
age"--gold in our teeth, silver in our hair, and lead in our pants.
"Whoever would love life and see
good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful
speech." I Peter 3:10.
Age doesn't always bring wisdom.
Sometimes age comes alone.
You're getting along in years when the
only urge you feel in the spring is to climb out of your long underwear.
Youth looks ahead; old age looks back;
and middle age looks tired.
"Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
it is attained by a righteous life." Proverb 20:29
Nothing ages a person faster than trying
to prove he/she is as young as ever.
It is possible that a person could live
twice as long if he/she didn't spend the first half of his/her life acquiring
habits that shorten the other half.
Few women admit their age. Few men act
theirs.
Our aim in life improves as we grow
older. But it seems we too soon run out of ammunition.
"Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am He. I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you, I
will sustain you, I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:4.
A gentleman in Georgia says he's at the
age where he's too old for castor oil and too young for Geritol.
Gray hair usually comes along about
twenty years after you thought it would make you look distinguished.
"Teach the older men to be
temperate, worthy of respect, self controlled, and sound in faith, in love,
and in endurance." Titus 2:2.
"Likewise, teach the older women to
be reverent in the way they live; not to be slanderers or addicted to much
wine; but to teach what is good." Titus 2:3.
Cosmetics are used by teen-age girls to
make them look older sooner; and by their mothers and grandmothers to make
them look younger longer.
A man in Nevada says that when he was a
boy his hair was light; then it turned dark; then it turned gray; and now it
has turned loose.
Retirement can be a great time if you can
figure out how to spend time without spending money.
Before deciding to retire from your job,
stay home a week and watch daytime television.
"Rise in the presence of the aged;
show respect for the elderly; and revere your God." Leviticus 19:32.
The key to a happy retirement is to have
enough money to live on, but not enough to worry about.
A male retiree says he's been playing
golf occasionally--but only on days ending with 'y'.
A Kansas father said his teen-age son
took an aptitude test and was found to be well suited for retirement.
"Listen to your father, who gave you
life; and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:22.
One of the problems of retirement is that
it gives you more time to read about the problems of retirement.
While we're ridding the country of
radicalism, Communism, liberalism, and Fascism; why not include rheumatism?
You cannot control the length of your
life; but you can control its breadth, depth, and height.
Just over the hill is a beautiful valley;
but you must climb the hill to see it.
No thoroughly occupied person--of any
age--has ever been known to be miserable.
Works, not words, are the proof of love.
Statistics show there are three ages when
people misbehave: young, old, and middle.
No one can stay young very long; but some
people manage to act like children all their lives.
"I have fought the good fight. I
have finished the race. I have kept the faith." II Tim. 4:7.
You are young only once. If you act
foolish after that; you'll have to find some other excuse.
To keep young, stay around young people.
To get old, try to keep up with them.
People may grow old gracefully; but
seldom gratefully.
We are only young once. This is all
society can stand.
"A wife of noble character, who can
find? She is worth far more than rubies....She sets about her work
vigorously....She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her
tongue....Her children arise and call her blessed...Charm is deceptive, and
beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her
the reward she has earned. Proverbs 31:10-31, excerpted.
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