By Pat
I have recently re-established contact with a couple of friends I have known since childhood, both of whom are devout Christians. In the past several months we have been praying for one another about the various problems we are facing now, and it has been just wonderful to connect with these ladies. I am so thankful that God has orchestrated this reunion. We are so much the same in many ways as when we were young...and yet so different. And the big difference is...age.
Society places so much emphasis on youth that it has become almost an embarrassment to show signs of aging. We are encouraged to buy expensive wrinkle creams, have our gray hair colored, and exercise to the point that we exhaust ourselves in our attempts to have the bodies and faces of young people. There are some women who become almost unrecognizable due to the many surgeries they have had so that they can maintain the appearance of youth, and I think it's very sad.
The things that make me where I am today in my faith walk and enable me to be more effective to God, are the experiences I have had along the way, and the struggles I have faced, the fears I have conquered, and the reliance on God that has grown stronger and stronger. My friends are the same way. We can now reach out and help one another in a much different way than we could have when we were younger. Our age has taught us valuable lessons, and we can now share these with one another in a richer, deeper way. We have learned patience, and that God's timing and ours do not usually coincide...and that's okay. We have learned that prayer and faith are the keys to getting along in life, and that the bond of friendship is one of the most wonderful gifts God has given us. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, tells us, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
I would not go back to my youth even if I could, for I firmly believe that God has used my mistakes and failures to help me become a better person, and will continue to do so, for I will ALWAYS make mistakes. But my age and maturity have taught me to look for the lessons and find the blessings, things I may not have done when I was much younger. I am thankful that God has forgiven my past and rules my future.
Being young is wonderful, there's no doubt about that, but aging and learning and growing are also wonderful. I never thought I would say it, but it's true! When God is the most important thing in your life, everything falls into the proper perspective and makes growing up much better. I am blessed, and I hope I can be a blessing to my friends as they are to me. And so, I will make friends with my middle-aged body and increasing wrinkes, and thank God every day for the gift of life, friends, and for His never-ending gift of love, and I will remember that, no matter what age I am, I am still a child of God.
Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.