DAILY DEVOTION
A
Shawl and a Rocking Chair
By
Cathy Irvin
Staff Writer
CBN.com –
Do you think about growing old? Don't we all wonder what
we will look like, act like, where we will be, and what we will
have accomplished? Do you get fearful of becoming old?
One thing I meditate on is the Word of God, especially if I get
overly concerned about the future. The Lord says His grace is
sufficient. He encourages us to take one day at a time and promises
that He will renew our youth like the eagles. He tells He has
a plan for each one of us. It is a plan to prosper us and to keep
us in good health. I must say what He says about growing old.
But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power
may rest on me (II Corinthians 12:9).
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that
your youth is renewed like the eagles (Psalm 103:5).
I remember my mother was not afraid of getting old. She lived
life to its fullest until she became ill with cancer. Even then,
she tried to live every moment to its maximum. She would ask for
Chinese food or to have a shrimp night. She went out when she
was weak just to go to church or shopping in order to spend time
with her loved ones. She fought the cancer because she was fighting
to live. She was 85 years old when she went to be with the Lord.
The one thing she would say before she became so sick was "never
put me in a shawl or in a rocking chair." My sister and I honored
her request. She even gave me a red shawl someone gave her. I
have it tucked away.
This winter I plan to wrap up my great-granddaughter, get in
my recliner rocking chair, and rock her to sleep. That is what
they are for, rocking babies. Or perhaps deep down, I don't want
to use it because I think about getting old since my mother thought
this way. We must be careful to think God thoughts, not the thoughts
of others. I am to follow in His ways.
You may think that it is not important to be so concerned about
getting old. But it is important if you get fearful. I have a
friend who is afraid of getting old. Hey, that is inevitable because
God says that the outward man perishes but the inward man is renewed
day by day. We shouldn't be afraid about aging. Our concern should
be that our spirit stays in tune with what God is saying, as we
grow older. Are we obedient to all He has called us to do? Are
we walking out our destiny? We need to believe like the old song
that says "One day at a time sweet Jesus." Lord, teach me to wait
one day at a time.
We are to live our lives so that it is pleasing to God. We can
all grow old gracefully because God's grace is sufficient. So
let's all grab a shawl and God's Word and get in a rocking chair.
Let's read it to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren so
when they are old they will remember that getting there wasn't
so bad. They will remember they learned from us how to do it God's
way.
Send Cathy your comments
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