Aging and Gardening

Aging and gardening are still two of my favorite writing prompts; an autumns-garden may still teach life lessons worth sharing.

Lord Willing– a new season

In an actual  garden past its prime, lots of plants, shrubs and flowers need cutting back, or uprooting. 

In our autumnal season, we may feel pruned, cutback and uprooted. We

• • say more good-byes than hellos —
  • understand nuances of  regret  we never imagined
  • accumulate losses faster than gains — except for weight.  

Could THIS be a memorial bench in my Autumns-garden?

Better Than A  Gardening Manual

My friend Flo recommended this book — In Martha Stewart’s voice: It’s a good thing — especially if you are rounding the bend to fifty or sixty.  

Summer Reading?

Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed. — Charles Schulz

Humble Reminder: Our American culture shows no signs of letting go of its worship of all things young, and at a certain age and stage this description may sting if you can relate:

She felt as useless and cast away as an old broom-handle in the world’s back yard. ~Rupert Hughes, The Old Nest, 1911

Christian women are not immune from dismay when gravity starts to exert more influence and we find our get up and go got up and went! I hate to break it to younger readers: middle-age is closer than you think, if you turned forty.

As Victor Hugo observed:

Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age.

 Take a Deep Breath

Sharon Betters and Susan Hunt reintroduce us to several older vibrant women in the Bible, and their stories.

I am at the age I now understand better why Sarah laughed.  

She knew her circumstances as well as you and I, dear friend, know our own. 

And, like Sarah — and Naomi —  we may  not  understand the fullness of God’s faithfulness. 

The authors also introduced us to some some gallant present-day silver saints, who have lived through situations that come with all the golden years. It was a good thing to hear how the Lord kept working in their lives helping them flourish.

We don’t necessarily give thanks for all things but in all things. (Aging with Grace)

If We Still Have a Pulse . . .

Flourishing is still part of our purpose; as is being willing to bear the fruit God has been cultivating through yours and my trials, grief, or a  wilderness wandering — even if we find ourselves in a small room, surrounded by medical supplies and machines.  (Aging with Grace,  pages 153, 164)   

The authors both of whom have road-tested all the good advice conclude:

My sisters, wherever you are on life’s timeline, begin now to pray for grace to finish strong, which means finishing weak. 

Whew — Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.  

This year’s beds look so pristine — now. I am looking forward to the how we will keep them up.

Aging with grace, especially in an anti- culture means adjusting more than our diets and exercise; even in the church. Especially in the church! Leave it to a meme to show me a better way to offer hope — because I still have a pulse— you do too if you have read to to the end! 

We Are Never Too Old To Let Our Light Shine!