How Old is “old”???

We have lots of family birthdays during the Summer–June, July and August require special budgeting in the Layton household for many reasons.

This weekend was the first celebration of birth and life, of many to follow over the coming season.

Our beautiful granddaughter Bella Grace turned 2 years old and I think really “GOT IT” for the first time about the “It’s ALL about Me” of Birthdays. She soaked up every minute of the day.

Isn’t she adorable!! Her long curly locks are pulled up into a busy day bun in the back. She is always happy. Always hugging. This day just gave her a good excuse.

I have had birthdays…and getting older…on my mind for more reasons than budgeting reasons lately.

Sometimes I let my own getting older make me feel like stepping back, easing up or slowing down, in the call God has placed on my life. Sometimes I wonder if my ministry assignment has run it’s course. Sometimes I wonder if the dreams I have had that have already come true, and MANY HAVE, are all that are to be.Sometimes I wonder if I am getting too old to do any more NEW things!!

Then God reminds me HOW OLD HE IS and I feel young again.

As I continue my journey through the book of Genesis, I am struck, by how OLD people got in those days.

Noah, for goodness sakes, lived to be 950 years old..HELLO!! I guess “Retirement” and “Social Security” looked different back then.

He lived 350 more years AFTER he did all that work building a boat and floating in it for half a year!

The Bible goes to great lengths to tell us exactly how long God designed people to live. All you have to do is read Genesis 11:10-32 to get a tiny glimpse of how it all started.

Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was BORN. He and Sarah lived to be 175 (Him) and 127 (Her). It just goes on and on. They all lived to see triple digit birthdays. I get tired just thinking about it really.

I think God’s original plan was for His people to live forever…sin changed things for us, still does. The sin of Adam and Eve introduced sickness, disease and death. The GOOD NEWS for us is that JESUS came to our self destructive rescue.

Second Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus has paid the price for our sin and paved the way for our ETERNAL lives. There really is no TOO YOUNG or TOO OLD in the Bible. God doesn’t think about stuff like that. He has a plan for every life and in fact knows EXACTLY how long each life will be.

It’s funny, I used to study and “claim” scriptures for myself like:

1 Timothy 4:12 “No one should despise your youth, you should be an example to the believers in speech, conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation and teaching.” When God first called me into full time ministry, I was worried about being too young. Not having enough experience. Not knowing enough.

Now I hang on to:

Psalm 92:12-15 “The righteous thrive like a Palm tree and grow like a Cedar in Lebanon. Planted int he house of the Lord, they thrive in the courtyards of our God. They will bear fruit in OLD AGE, healthy and green to declare “The Lord is Just. He is my Rock, there is no unrighteousness in Him”. THAT’S what I’m Talkin’ about!! That is my only goal in life. Young or Old..to DECLARE the greatness of God.

I love how God keeps my head and heart in perspective.

Yesterday, I put on a BATHING SUIT for the first time this year to swim in the pool with my G-babies. It is truly MOST EVERYWOMAN”S  most terrifying moment of the year, no matter how old or young she is. We get used to it but that first step from sweater to suit is painful. When I got the nerve to come out of the bathroom, my granddaughter looked at me and said “G, You look beautiful  in that”. Could be she just wanted to get on with the swim but….AWWWWW, I LOVE that little girl.

THEN…the same little girl was riding with me in the car later and asked “G, How Old are You?”. I told her the same “fib”/”joke” that my family has teased me about for years, “I am 29”. (now younger than my oldest son 🙂

“Oh” she replied, not having a clue at 5 years old that I was being dishonest. She would never think that about me anyway. I should be ashamed of myself I know.

“Why are you asking” I continued, “Do I LOOK old to you?”

“Well” she said “Your hands look old and your feet look old but you act young G” (Hey it happens to the best of us…check this out)

WELL SAID MY PRECIOUS Granddaughter. I know, your birthday is in 2 weeks!!