Psalm 71: 14-15, "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not of its measure."
I have never understood that question, "If you could go back in time, would you?" While there are definitely people I would love to see again, I wouldn't want to go back to lose them again. And there is no period of time I would go back to. EVER.
"If you could write a letter to a younger you, what would you say?" is another one that confounds me. While I definitely might take less junk from people, going through the junk made me who I am...the bumps, bruises and scars are part of the beauty of me. I'm not talking about pretty...but the kind of whole deal...every beautiful imperfection.
Forget the helicopter parent. The new term out there is the lawnmower parent...you mow the way ahead of your kid so that they might not experience pain, disappointment, or betrayal. It is so painful to see your kids hurt, but to know the refining God is doing in them and how strong they will be on the otherside of it makes it bearable. It is almost unloving to deny them that. And you learn to be grateful for the parents that loved you through yours. To teach them that the world can be a tough place, but you are loved by me and by a Heavenly Father that has promised HE would NEVER leave or forsake you.
The writer of Psalm 71 has been there, done that. The joy of aging lies in the amassing of trust and love you develop. "For You have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on You; You brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise You. (v. 5-6)" You know, the friend you've had that has loved you through thick and thin, the good, the bad and the very ugly. There's One even greater....who knew you would go through the thick and the thin and that there would be times you would behave so badly that you might seem unlovable...but, you aren't.
You are deeply loved. And it enables you to have the psalmist's confidence that God is there. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego told old king Nebby, "..we do not need to defend ourselves before you...the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will resucue us...But even if He does not..." "Even if" might be my second favorite words in the Bible (after "But God"). You are loved, He knows the plans He has for you (Jer. 29:11-13) and He is working for your good (Rom. 8:28). With these gray hairs, I have learned to trust in that. I have seen His work in me and many people I love. I am grateful for His rescues and His companionship and those "even if" moments when I come out stronger and say "still I will praise you"
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