Welcome to my blog, or should I say to the ramblings of an old man. I doubt that my ramblings are of much value, but at least I have an opportunity to share them.  So, please be kind and humor me. If nothing else of value stands out in these thoughts, I hope that you at least sense the value I place on a daily walk with the Lord.  That walk is what has provided me with motivation and a sense of purpose throughout my lifetime.  My prayer is that you, too, are experiencing this direction and joy in daily living which is available to everyone who puts his trust in Christ.  So, thanks again for joining me.  Please don't go without leaving some comments here so I can get to know you better as our paths intersect today in this blog.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Winter Comes Quickly





          A friend recently sent me a copy of a blog,"And Then It Is Winter", that I thought was so good that I would share it in my blog.  I wanted to give proper credit to the author so I searched the web to find the author's name.  What I found were numerous versions of this from all sorts of people.  So I really don't know who to give credit to and I apologize for that.  For those of us who are getting older, this should hit home.   Enjoy:

           You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.
           It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.  Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.  I know that I lived them all.  I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
          But, here it is - the ' back nine' of my life and it catches me by surprise.  How did I get here so fast?  Where did the years go and where did my youth go?  I remember vividly seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that 'I was only on the first hole' and the 'back nine' was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.
           But, here it is  ... my friends are retired and getting gray.  They move slower and I see an older person now.  Some are in better and some worse shape than me, but I see the great change.
          Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant ... but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd become.  Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!
          And taking a nap is not a treat anymore  ... it's mandatory!  Cause if I don't on my own free will, I just fall asleep where I sit!
          And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!
          But, at least I know, that though I'm on the ' back nine' and I'm not sure how long it will last, this I know for sure, that when it's over on this earth ...  it's over.  A new adventure will begin!
         Yes, I have regrets.  There are things I wish I hadn't done ... things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done.  It's all in a lifetime.
           So, if you're not on the ' back nine' yet ... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.  So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!  Don't put things off too long!  Life goes by quickly.  So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you're on the 'back nine' or not!  You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life ... so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember, and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!
         "Life" is a gift to you.  The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.  Make it a fantastic one.  Live It well!   Enjoy today!  Do something fun!   Be Happy!   Have a great day!  Remember, "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver."
          Finally, consider the following:

~ Your kids are becoming you ... but your grandchildren are perfect.

~ Going out is good  ... Coming home is better!

~ You forget names ... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!

~ The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore!
~ You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed.  It's called "pre-sleep".
~ You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.
~ You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what?" ... "when?"..." ???
~ What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
~ Everybody whispers.
~ You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet ...2 of which you will never wear.
~ But Old is good in some things ... Old Songs, Old Movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS.

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS

          And let me add the following to this author's blog.  If you know the Lord you know that your real home is getting closer.  Soon we will exchange this increasingly challenging life for the perfect home being prepared for us in our eternal location, heaven. No more aches and pains or tears or canes or hearing aids or walkers. And that is the fact that allows us to face each new day and each new challenge with hope.

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