Rockin' the Gray – Genesis 37:3

3 Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat.

– Genesis 37:3

Rockin' the Gray

There are birthday milestones that seem to get people down, especially once one passes the quarter-century mark. 25 can be a devastating number  as people realize their youth is quickly fading and they are entering the age of responsibility (hopefully).  Then as thirty passes by, life evaluations start taking place and daily grooming routines take on the removal of strange ear hair and those wiry gray stragglers.

By forty, most of us have settled and made peace with the fact that we are no longer twenty, and hopefully we are well into our careers and family.  These stresses produce all kinds of gray hair (everywhere), and the nice physique that was once a no-brainer now requires constant attention and tweaking to be able to stay in our current pant size.

In our fifties and sixties, we sit back and smile at the youthful exuberance of our children's children, and we reminisce about the days when we to could run and jump and twirl with abandon and ease.  But we smile for different reasons as well.  Despite the aches and the pains, and the more frequent trips to the doctor (and pharmacy); despite the blander and more sensible diet, and the much earlier bedtime, we smile with a sense of accomplishment and we enjoy the wisdom that we've gained through the years of life-expereinces, and the lessons learned from mistakes that have been overcome.  Our finances are generally more in order (hopefully), and our leisure time is a lot more leisurely.

Today's scripture reminds us that God also takes note of our age, and He wants to remind us that there are still many blessings and surprises in store for us as we get older.  He isn't done with us by any means, and we shouldn't expect that our usefulness in the kingdom is no longer needed.  The fruit of our efforts, with God's help and provision can be the stuff that changes nations.  We just have to be willing to take what God has given us, no matter how insignificant we think our offerings are, and put our faith to work.  

Retirement in God's kingdom is not an option, and if we will devote our experiences and our life-lessons to our Heavenly Father, He will promote us and He will bless us, and He will surprise us in ways we never thought possible.  The " New Thing" that God births in us, or from us just might be the best thing we ever do, but we have to be willing and available fro Him to work in and through us.  

It's time to stop looking at getting older as an excuse to slow down.  God wants to produce something elaborate in us – something we can love and be proud of, and something that will bring us more joy than we have ever known.

Prayer

Father, Thank You for continuing to work in us, no matter how old we are.  May our hands never be still when it comes to working the harvest fields.  Thank You for reminding us that Your blessings are elaborate and exciting, at every stage of our lives.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard