I love the movie, “Second Hand Lions,” with Michael Caine, Robert Duvall and Haley Joel Osment. It’s about two old codgers who won’t give up on life, even though they’re reaching that point in their existence. They use their own experiences and adventures to shape the life of a long lost nephew and continue to pursue life’s adventures until they finally died with their boots on flying a handmade airplane over their barn. The adventures undoubtedly didn’t end for these fellows. They lived exciting lives – achieved love and success – continued to do the things that made them the men they had become until that last day on earth, but I am convinced the adventure was just about to begin for them.

When I think about my own demise or that of my husband, I can’t help but feel a sense of empathy for these guys. The two of us have had many wonderful and sometimes frightening adventures. We’ve been blessed to continue doing the work we love\ and feel like we won’t ever quit working, because of that. God has given us a wonderful promise for a future with Him. We look forward to that day of talking face to face with our Creator. We know with surity that our salvation has been won for us by God’s precious Son, Jesus. We also know that if we stop living, we will surely die. So this doesn’t mean we’re on a fast train to death. We just want to live every remaining minute on this earth with a zest and passion for what we love doing and how God can use us through the gifts He has given us.

This world is full of tragedy, pain, suffering, addiction, loneliness, hate and so much more. It’s not a fun place to be right now, but if we allow those negative feelings to overtake us, we have no hope for a better future. So our careers will not be over for a while. Who knows, Paul may still be painting beautiful art and I may be writing stories in eternity, because God knows how much we love doing those things.

Senior citizens have longer life spans now. We have access to medical miracles to keep us healthy. We are getting replacements for body parts, can look years youger, (makeup does wonders) and fill our time with things we enjoy doing or by being a mentor to those who want the wisdom of our years. Even though we may be slowly decaying and falling apart, God has great plans for us.  Until we pass from life to death, to new life, our time of grace is another of His gifts to us.  It’s a time to share our Savior’s love with others. Then we can truly die with our boots on.

2 Corinthians 4:16  “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”