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April 10, 2006
Never Too Young and Never Too Old
by Susan Brinley
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (I Timothy 4:12).
I remember daydreaming as a young girl, wondering and hoping over my future. I watched older girls at church and school, evaluating and learning from their dress and demeanor; I speculated about my changes in the years ahead, impatiently straining for the next phase of Ògrowing up.Ó Most daydreams for the future ceased somewhere in my twenties for some reason I didnÕt spend much time speculating on the excitement of the decades beyond! With Òmiddle-age,Ó however, IÕm gaining appreciation for perspective in both directions. Realizing I need to grow older graciously in the Lord, I have been again looking for role models. This has caused me to consider a few specific responsibilities and encouragement, no matter what age.
IÕll always be older than someone else. Therefore, I need to be a good example of how to live in this present age. I can encourage students at any level to stay the course and do their best. I can encourage others as they consider various life decisions and as they approach milestones of life in graduations, marriage, and the years of raising a young family or beginning a career. I can smile and assure each one that it is God who will faithfully guide and lead them through every stage. God wants us to use our experiences to encourage others.
IÕll always be younger than someone else. I should be a wise observer of other godly women to learn how to receive GodÕs grace for the challenges ahead. Not only can I look to older women for cues and clues about godly living in the future, but I can also seek to encourage them, too. I can express appreciation for their faithfulness and testimony as part of our church family. I can ask for help or suggestions, often receiving great encouragement and insight for my own unknown waters, allowing them to be a useful and needed blessing, too. I can sit with someone who has no family or friends present; I can remark on a lovely appearance or smile. It is encouraging just to notice older women, sometimes just that they are able to be present for a service or activity.
God provides grace and strength for every new phase of life. Whether we are a young career woman, wife, mother, grandmother, or friend, God will see each of us through. Yet we can be encouragers and examples to each other and therefore a great blessing, no matter our age.
. . . Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:12-13, NAS).
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