As time goes by, our bodies move slower; our minds need to take a while to digest things; our friends are dying or becoming disabled;  the world around us seems to be taking on a totally different bend and we wonder what ever happened to the good old days.

When you’re married to your high school sweetheart, you’ve pretty much grown up together.  You’ve melded into one without even realizing it. You finish each other’s sentences.  You anticipate each other’s needs.  You get annoyed with each other from time to time. You muddle through and accept things you may not have with anyone else.

When you go to purchase a bottle of fine wine, you probably look at the age of that beverage in hopes of buying something extra special.  The same applies to cheese.  The older the better.  There are a few other things in this world that take on prestige as they age, but that often doesn’t apply to human beings – especially in a society that has lost all reverence for the elderly, or simply are unable to cope with seeing parents growing older.

Many folks my age are living full and active lives.  Many have decided to wait for God to carry them home and have given up.  Some have already lost their spouses and are trying to move on.  This stage of life is one filled with much struggle, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, feeling useless and longing for heaven.

Age can either perfect you or cause you to rot and decay.  I prefer to be part of the group that seeks perfection.  The best place to find that is in your relationships with friends and family – with associates – with those who make your life richer – those who make you laugh – those who accept you as you are.  Look for the best in these individuals and they will bring out the best in you.   If you can’t find it in worldly friends, there’s One who loves you unconditionally – even with all your flaws, wrinkles and crumbling body.  God places each of us in high esteem and has prepared a mansion for us after we depart this rotting veil of tears.

Life doesn’t have to be a barrel filled with angst and thoughts of death.  It should be rich right up until your last breath.  When you’re blessed to have someone to share life with, you possess a barrel of joy which will keep you going to the end – which is really just the beginning.