Growing in Grace (Choosing to Not be Old and Grumpy)

Something happens when your body and mind age:

Suddenly you find yourself making strange mistakes; forgetting things; doing everyday chores backwards. Even as I type this, I shake my head at some of the things I’ve done!

• Putting food in the garbage and garbage in the fridge.
• Starting to look for items in the strangest places.
• Hugging someone I thought I knew when visiting another town. (Turned out she was a checker at my grocery store back home.)

While a certain amount of this is natural, it can be quite shocking, even frightening, at first. You’re not sure if you’re losing your mind or just tired. Surely, someone else must be moving your things or playing tricks on you. It’s tempting to draw back. To play it safe and isolate in little ways. But as time goes on, you have to decide: Either you yield to fear and anger, or you choose to laugh.

It helped to talk to my mom and hear her funny stories (like pouring coffee on her cereal). But as the months went by and these small, daily mix-ups continued, I realized something very important. My choice to laugh at myself took the power away from fear.

My choice to laugh at myself took the power away from fear. Click To Tweet

I also recognized changes in my attitude as I chuckled at my foibles.

First, I started seeing myself differently.

• I saw blind spots of pride and fear.
• But I also saw fruit of patience and self-control.
• I realized the pressure of expecting perfection.
• And the joy of laughing at one’s self.

In turn, I saw others in a different light.

• I didn’t point the finger so quickly.
• After all, it could have been my fault, but I’d just forgotten what I did.
• And maybe they made a mistake.
• Or misunderstood what I said.
• Maybe they needed grace extended to them.

As you learn to laugh at yourself, it becomes easier and easier to forgive others. Or not even need to forgive, as there wasn’t an offence in the first place.

As you learn to laugh at yourself, it becomes easier to forgive others. Click To Tweet

For the record: I’m not going silently into my second half, resigned to losing my memory or other “normal” abilities. I learn new skills and information daily. I’m walking and stretching and eating healthy. I agree with the resurrection life of Jesus in my body and mind and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in ways that have totally changed my health and life.

No, I’m not exalting the aging of my body. I’m learning to learn from everything that comes my way.

• To embrace the lesson.
• To choose humility.
• To find the treasure.
• To love more purely.
• To expect good and forgive error.
• To take joy in learning and solving riddles and doing common chores in new, better ways.

These treasures are well worth a few wrinkles.

I am learning to learn from everything that comes my way. Click To Tweet

Remember, you’re planting seeds — every day — with your words and attitudes. What fruit will you be eating from them tomorrow? Each day is a chance to plant grace and laugher, and reap the same. This is the beauty of growing older, if you let it be.

“[Growing in grace] they will still thrive
and bear fruit and prosper in old age;
They will flourish and be vital and fresh
[rich in trust and love and contentment];

[They are living memorials] to declare that the Lord
is upright and faithful [to His promises];
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
Psalm 92:12-15 AMP

These treasures are well worth a few wrinkles. Click To Tweet

I’d love to hear some of your quirky stories and how you’ve overcome the fear of aging.