First Baptist Church of Herndon

Old but...

Linda Soller | Jan 18, 2016

Every morning I have to check my blood pressure. It’s just until my next doctor appointment, but supposedly it will tell my doctor how my meds are working. My little machine seemed to be losing power so I took out the batteries, and placed them in the package and wrote on the top, “old, but still have life.” I sat there looking at the words on the little torn battery package and thought, “now that is a true statement, almost profound.”

Daily many of us feel the stresses of age. Some of us struggle with obstacles we had observed as young people and dreaded as we looked to our futures. Still others get our admiration as they don’t really seem to age the way we expect. Regardless which category we fall into we have choices. Do we give in to the “rages of time” or do we prevail? Do we grow so weary we stop fighting or muster our strength to fight another day? Do we grow so sad we can’t see the sun for the clouds or do we see the rays of light peeking through? These are important questions, because like my batteries the way we function may just drive the way others deal with us.  My batteries were losing power. They were not dead. They still have life.

In church we heard the story of Anna and Simeon, who recognized Jesus when He was brought as an infant to the synagogue. They were old. They had lived a full life, but the hope of seeing the promised One kept them focused on the future. The next week our story was about Naomi, an older woman and widow, headed home with daughter-in-law Ruth, looking for a better future. At times Naomi felt she was being punished, maybe she should just die, but in the end she found God’s mercy in the changes she was experiencing.

My four little AA batteries are sitting in the plastic container waiting. Maybe they will power my toothbrush, or my walking flashlight. I wrote down my numbers on the chart for my doctor. With medication, lots of exercise, a better diet, and having lost a few pounds they are improving. Like my batteries I have slowed somewhat, and I may be old, but I still have life. Thank you God for each new day.

Have a great week!  :o)  Linda