July 20, 2023 – 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10
Aging….it isn’t for sissies. I have crossed into the other side of life. My old body just doesn’t quite do what it used to. I can tell it every year I go to the fair. It gets a little harder to walk up that big hill. I can’t quite do that 14+ hours out there like I used to. And the day after….well, that is a day to definitely rest. But I go anyway. I run around like a kid and do as much as I can. I feel like a kid even though this old body doesn’t quite do all that it used to.
I would like to think I am aging gracefully. Continuing to be thankful for all I can do and to be gentle with myself when things are a little more difficult. I don’t want to be so stuck on what I can’t do that I miss out on the blessings of what I can do.
That attitude is something that comes from within. It comes from believing I am young and my days on earth are a gift. I know that when my time comes to leave this earth and go on to heaven, my aches and pains will no longer be relevant. What is important is what I am feeling on the inside – in my heart. What matters is how I am treating people, animals and this earth. I believe we are called to give our very best while we are here. I believe that my little physical ailments are nothing compared to the glory I will see someday. I believe that love is the key that can bring joy to those around me. So, I will encourage you today to live and experience the joy that the Holy Spirit has for you. He lives in you. You can experience life from the inside out.
Questions for reflection:
- When was a time you felt your earthly body just couldn’t do what you wanted it to do? Maybe it was during a workout or some kind of ailment you experienced.
- How does it make you feel when you think about enjoying life from the inside out? In other words, allowing joy to be the driver vs. physical ability?
- In what ways can you rely on the Holy Spirit to renew you each and every day?