The news came hard this week. My grandparents are aging.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, of course. We’re all aging. Every day, aging.
I’m a blessed girl to have had them this long. Blessed to have every one of them attend my wedding and still around as I brought their great grandchildren into the world.
Maybe those years of grace made me think I could avoid the inevitable. Every day, aging.
I’m struggling to wrap my brain around God’s design for our slow resign, the gradual unfurling of minds and bodies is painful to watch, frightening to endure, and challenging to navigate.
To sit by as capable individuals become humbled and helpless turns my world on end a bit, challenges what I’ve always known to be true. The slow fade becomes a light switch in retrospect. Wasn’t it just yesterday she had fresh baked cookies waiting for my brother and I as we charged off the school bus? I loved the days we took the bus to her house, because of Grandma. And cookies.
Yet every day, aging.
I choose gratitude for so many good years. Years of memories and stories. Years of boating and fishing. Years of camping and long chats around the dining room table in swivel chairs. Tall glasses of iced tea and Grandpa’s grapefruit. All back when I was clueless to the aging.
I pray God’s abundant grace and provision over my grandparents in their final months and years. The everyday aging, appears to get a bit more trying in time. But I trust that He is in it all. Even the hard.
And when the aging does hit hard and they are confused and scared and a seeming shell of their former self, I pray for peace for them to endure that well. It’s the only thing I really know to do as you watch one wither and weather. Every day, aging.
And at the same time I am reminded that we are not ever guaranteed our time. We make plans and we dream dreams assuming tomorrow, when we really only ever have today. Right now.
My aging grandparents further my brave resolve to do today well, to step bravely, because time is finite. While I know this logically, I deceive myself at times. We’ll do that when the kids are older. I’ll chase my dreams when…I’ll make time for my husband after…my friends after. The only guarantee with time is every day aging.
I suppose it is possible to place too much importance on the now as well, to load too much into our moments, fill our days with too much expectation. Balance is tricky in almost every area of life. But I think that is the side I’d rather error on.
I’d rather think too much about the small things, than not enough; small moments like after school cookies and tall glasses of iced tea that forge memories. A lifetime of memories planted in seeds of small moments. I’d rather try too hard to chase my dreams, fail miserably, rather than stuff and hide and wish without ever trying. I’d rather error on the side of spending too much time now, loving too much now, staying up too late now and ending the day too exhausted now, than leave it all on the table for another day that may never come.
There is a balance, to be certain. But all too often we spend our days simply waiting. And every day aging.
We talked about a brave October. A third of the month is now almost gone. I hope you are filling your days well, friends.
Even in their weakest and waning days I continue to learn truths of life from my grandparents. And even then, will I bravely seek to make them proud.
This post is linked at Grace & Truth. Follow the link for more thoughtful encouragement from some talented writers.
Another good post!
We had a wkend filled w/ adventure; watching Jay escort @ S’side homecoming game to riding horses & chasing cows & finally raking a big pile of leaves for the kids.
We watched them over & over again run & jump in that pile!!
Isn’t it awesome… Seeing the world through their eyes. One memory @ a time.
🙂
Absolutely! I love that you are taking it all in and enjoying every moment of it. Fabulous memories, right there.
Enjoyed your aging comments. As one who lives like this is rehearsal and the illusion that I’ll get to come back and do things over, I’ve missed many moments ” when I could have been in the moment” more. We never will the age we are today. Amazing I had a birthday just a year ago! And mirror should not be allowed at some point in time. I feel great and alive and young until I look in the mirror.
The mirror is deceiving, you are great and alive! Happy birthday and thank you for being another stunning example of passing the time with grace. No matter what the mirror tells you, your life reflects your heart beautifully and I have been so blessed to be able to learn from you.<3
As I approach 50 this aging thing seems more and more real and puts many things into perspective. As a grandparent now your article also helps me think of the impact I have on my fast growing 5 grand blessings… (So far 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts… We’ll just keep living brave and choosing joy as we await our new bodies and eternal home…
That certainly is the best choice, Rhonda. Thank you for being a beautiful example of doing this aging thing well. Some not so favorable aspects are inevitable, but doing it bravely, gracefully makes a difference.
This is beautifully written. Yes, taking the time to cherish the small moments is a great reminder to us all. I know myself I don’t spend as much time cherishing the small moments as I should.
Thank you for this post!
Thank you, Mim. It certainly takes effort. I mess this up all the time, but keep working on it just the same.
we should be honoring our parents and grandparents – they have SO MUCH wisdom and life experience to share with us
Yes, yes they do, Andi.
Beautiful. Every small thing matters. Our mighty smallness is enough.
http://unveiledandrevealed.wordpress.com
Yes, Brianna. Our smallness, laid before Him. <3
A blessing to have read this today. This year has brought many changes in my family’s lives. I’m tired of living with the struggles of this life. I choose to live for Gods everyday blessings 1 day at a time.
Thank you Katie. I’m blessed to have you as my friend and neighbor.
I thought of you when writing this, friend, knowing how you have watched the unraveling yourself, from the front row. Choosing to see the blessing every day, right along with you.
Wow, I love the way you are honoring your grandparents with your words here – and inviting us to consider our own lives. I’ve been having some similar thoughts as the seasons change and I’m reminded that we never get this time back. It is so precious, a gift we get everyday and I’m trying to live into that instead of being consumed with busyness. Thanks for sharing.
It’s not an easy task, Lindsey, when busyness seems to seek to consume us at every turn, but I believe it is an honorable goal. One we will be thankful we bravely fought when we are reflecting on our lives years from now. Thanks so much for stopping by!