Saturday, February 18, 2012

Surprise! Being Old Can Be Fun!


Someone asked me the other day how old I am.  I proudly told this person that I am 70 years old, soon to be 71.  It’s like when you were 15; you never say you’re 15, you are always 15-1/2, going on 16.  

As I reached the 50 mark, I thought, now you really have to act your age, and I tried to do just that. However, I find it easier at 70.  You see, you can play games again when you’re 70.  

You get to play hide and seek!  The game play is that you put something away. When you need it again, you find out that you have hidden it from yourself, thus begins the seek part of the game. The downside of the game is that sometimes you have to forfeit it because it is nowhere to be found, until days, months, even a year later, you run across the item while you are looking for something else that you hid.

If you live in a two story house, you get to play on the stairs and get away with it.  I find myself running up and down the stairs all day long...well maybe not running, just carefully holding onto the rails and going up and down slowly.  You get away with because you have a valid reason. Either you have left something upstairs that your need, or vice versa. 

And guess what, you never sleep alone. You go to bed with Arth-Ritis, and get up with Ben Gay. 

If you haven’t reached the golden years again, you will know when you do. You will look in the mirror and get the socks scared off of you.  You think you see your mother, until you look again and realize that it is you…you have turned into your mother. Then the fun begins. Stay positive and optimistic! At the end of the day, thank God for the day, and praise Him in the morning for yet another day of your life.

An optimist is someone who goes after Moby Dick in a rowboat and takes the tartar sauce with him. - Zig Ziglar

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Eye Opening Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day, and most who have spouses or  a special person in their lives are celebrating this one day to openly express your love for one another.

Since my husband passed away, I have had the feeling of dread of Valentine's Day because we always enjoyed this day, whether we went out, or whether we just spent a quiet time at home together.  I miss hearing him say I love you.  I miss the wonderful meals that he prepared for me on special days.  They were wonderful.  I miss his laugh. I even miss him being irritated with me [sometimes].  I miss his big voice.  The real truth is that I just miss my gentle giant.

This morning was not different. I  got up and felt a void. I didn't have anyone to share Valentine's with. I'm alone without my soul mate.  Tears began to well up in my eyes, and all of sudden, I began to think of Jesus and my heart lightened. I baked cupcakes for my family, and as I was cleaning up, the words " No Other Name" kept going through my mind.  Then I remembered it is the name of a wonderful song. Since I didn't know all of the words, I  googled the lyrics to the song, and it feels so good to know though my loving husband is not with me, Jesus is…"He walks with me, and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own." They are words to another wonderful song. 

Yes, there are the those without a spouse or a special person in their lives. Some because not the right person has come along; others, like me, because our spouse has been called home to Heaven. But whatever the reason, we do have someone who loves us more than is our capacity to love. His name is JESUS.  He loved us so much that He died on Calvary so that we would not face sure death without  the hope of eternal life.  For those who believe  in Him, follow Him and hold Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords,  always giving Him the praise and glory for His sacrifice we have that wonderful gift .

I'm posting the lyrics of "No Other Name", and for anyone who is feeling alone today, I hope they give you the peace I feel after reading them.  I have a Valentine on this day and every day, and His name is Jesus

No Other Name
Teach my eyes to recognize You
Teach my lips to glorify You
Guide my feet so I can find You
Wherever You are
Be my way, I'm lost without you
Be my light, shining through my every breath
My every move, till every thought is You

One day every knee will bow
To the
God of Glory, the Lord most Holy
Emmanuel
Giver of Life, Light of the world
And there's no other name
Worthy of praise but Yours

Teach my eyes to recognize You
Teach my lips to glorify You
Guide my feet so I can find You
Wherever You are

One day every knee will bow
And one day every tongue will confess
You're the
God of Glory, the Lord most Holy
Emmanuel
Giver of Life, Light of the world
There's no other name
Worthy of praise but Yours

Jesus, there's no other name but Yours
Jesus

You're the
God of Glory, the Lord most Holy
Emmanuel
God of Glory, the Lord most Holy
Emmanuel
Giver of Life, Light of the world
And there's no other name
Worthy of praise, oh there's no other name
Worthy of praise but Yours
There's no other name but Yours

Happy Valentine's Day

Ann