Years ago, when I was moving Caitlyn Su into an apartment at A&M, I was struggling to carry her laundry basket filled with blankets up the stairs. A young college student saw me huffing and puffing and said, “Sir, may I carry that for you.”
As I looked at this kind young man, I realized he was about six feet tall and probably weighed twenty-eight pounds. I also knew that Caitlyn Su’s laundry basket weighed more than he did and would break him in half. So I thanked him and said I was okay.
That was the moment I recognized that someone in college would probably look at my gray hair, see me struggling with a laundry basket, and think I was old. I was offended.
Now, with a few more years under my belt, I am happy about getting older. I am truly enjoying this stage of life. I have adjusted nicely.
The spare tire that is around my middle makes the perfect easy chair for my grandchildren to rest on. I have become very comfortable picking out my clothes from the Extra Fat Tom side of the closet. I also enjoy watching young parents learn the ropes of raising children because I’ve been there, done that and have the T-shirt and scars to prove it. It’s their turn.
The bottom line is that each of us is getting older. You may be twenty today and turn around twice and be forty. That’s okay. It’s the natural progression of life. God engineered you that way. So live each day knowing that if you are still here, you have a purpose. Also, enjoy the ride.
The 90th Psalm is entitled, A Prayer of Moses, the Man of God. It says, “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” (Psalm 90:12)
The goal of those who serve Jesus Christ is to be better people today than we were yesterday. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a lot of room for improvement.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for giving me another day in this world. Help me to use it wisely. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Getting older is a fact of life. It’s not a bad thing.
Just for the record, when I finally got Caitlyn Su’s laundry basket from hell up the stairs, I asked her why her blankets were so heavy. She told me that she also had her dumbbells in the basket. I almost had a heart attack.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 