
Wish I Could Upgrade Myself as Easily as the Laptop!
A few days ago, we made some necessary improvements on my laptop. The outside didn’t change; the inside did: we bought a new hard drive because of a bad sector, added more memory, and upgraded the operating system.
Too bad we couldn’t do that with me, myself and I! But, it is what it is — Grateful this morning for the prospect of celebrating another birthday, I am.
I am big on gratitude – its necessity is the theme of many gardening tips I have learned. Without it, nothing works right. Gratitude is like the bowl that holds fruit of the spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:23-24)
And it always disappoints me to see how cracked my bowl is.
Age is truly a time of heroic helplessness. One is confronted by one’s own incorrigibility. I am always saying to myself, “Look at you, and after a lifetime of trying.” (Florida Scott-Maxwell)
Depressing confession: I had a birthday manicure today, and the woman who did it could speak little English, she was old – perhaps one of the younger manicurist’s aunt or grandmother. Yet, she was not experienced. Instead of putting myself in her shoes – and trying to empathize with her challenges, I kept a mental tally of her mistakes.
I could have thanked God for all the undeserved blessings that enabled me to sit myself down and have anyone wait upon me. I could have prayed for her.
Seriously. Self-righteous indignation over a manicure?
Yep – that would be me.
I hate those A-Ha moments when I see a practical example of what Scripture means. For example, the verse where the prophet Jeremiah described the human heart:
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? ~ Jeremiah 17:9
The best present I have today – apart from Doug and the kids is the Hope that God is still at work, and is permitting me a day of work on His Sabbath.
I hope you feel His pleasure this morning, gentle reader – and if you have the time, please read, John Piper’s thoughts on aging: The Dignity of Our Deterioration.

His Mercies are NEW Every Morning!
Happy Birthday and great computer upgrade birthday present, especially with all you write. Counting others mistakes? Not seeing the log in my eye. . .