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The Other Half The Other Half
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A friend ‘phoned me yesterday and when he heard my voice, he asked if he could speak to my mother! Boy, did I feel good! It really is rather amusing that we always feel highly complimented if people think we’re younger than we are - unless we’re under 18 years old. Actually, I quite like being an old age pensioner. It has all sorts of benefits - the best one being. “Oh, I’m sorry, did I mishear that / make a mistake / misunderstand? Please forgive me, it’s my age you know.” I’ve enjoyed every age so far. I loved my childhood when my needs were met and decisions were made for me. Experiencing independence on leaving home was challenging and meeting Charles, getting married and having children was brilliant. Now the children have left home, and we are just two again, that is lovely - and grandchildren are very special. I do realise that I have really been blest through every age. Of course there have been problem times, times of unhappiness and times of trauma but, overall, each age has brought it’s own experiences and challenges. I’m sad that some things are no longer part of my life but I’m really glad others aren’t - definitely no more exams, frightening fairground rides or bungy jumping! I miss people whom I’ve loved and see no more but then I’m always meeting new friends and discover ‘family’ all over the world as I travel to Christian gatherings. A major turning point in my life was when I met Jesus and discovered that God, whom I confess I had thought a figment of man’s imagination, had a purpose for me. He knew all about me and loved me very much and, at last, I was going to listen to him and try to do that which he had already prepared for me to do. That makes a huge difference to life. I am sure that it must be very hard to live without faith - to not know that one has been created uniquely for a purpose; created in love by God (whatever the earthly circumstances of our birth was) for God - to know Him and to love Him. His presence in my life has certainly enhanced every age, every year, every day …. I recently read a birthday card - Growing up is great - growing old is optional! with a picture of an elderly lady playing hopscotch.! Time passes, that’s unavoidable. What we do with it is our option. There is a church clock in Ilfracombe which has alongside it the statement “It’s time to seek the Lord.” I’m wearing a t-shirt which someone gave me earlier this year. Plain white, with a large clock on it but no hands on the clock face. It stimulates the question “What time is it?” The answer? It’s time to seek the Lord. God is good - all the time. All the time - God is good! © Sue Whitehead
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