It’s been over sixty years since I donned my first pair of saddle shoes and poodle skirt. Years have melted away, but a few days with my almost thirteen year old granddaughter,  have caused me to realize that we have a lot in common.

Tween years are like awakening the caccoon and releasing the butterfly. It’s a life filled with extremes – playing with Barbies or wanting to snag a date. Going from carefree to making the right choices –  thinking you know more than those who care for you – feeling invincible and having no fear except for spiders and strange sounds in the night –  laughing your head off one minute and crying like a baby the next – watching your body go through changes on a daily basis.

To top it all off, you’re living in a world where anything goes. Morality means taking birth control pills so you don’t have to endure an unplanned pregnancy. Going to church is outdated. Parents are spread too thin to spend time talking or doing things with their children.  It’s a fearful time in an uncertain world.

Come to think of it, I’m beginning a new chapter in my life too. It’s called old age and many of the symptoms are like those of my granddaughter. For example, I often feel caccooned. Some days I suffer with being too warm, while others require more  layers. I love doing silly things that my contemporaries find childish, but I’m not yet ready to kick the bucket. I think I know more than those younger than me, but I still have a lot to learn. I look in the mirror expecting to see my radiant smile, only to be greeted by my mom’s reflection.  I go to bed wondering how I got through the day and rise with renewed zeal most of the time.

Life is a roller coaster, particularly during pivotal stages, but we get through it pretty much unscathed.  The human spirit – created by God Himself – is an amazing equalizer. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, even when our lives change.