What is Defeating Whom?

I call my blog "Defeating old age" because I thought I might when I began this blog.  But time changes all things including that. At the moment I definitely feel that old age is defeating me.  I want to stay positive and strong and healthy.  I want to defeat a winter cold in less than 4 or 5 weeks which it will soon be.

I fear old age is out ahead right now - can't smell or taste, nose still running, cough still wheezing.  But one way to get back in the running is to very simply never give up, never lose hope and never stop believing that "this too will pass."

Another way is to remember all I have to do is just get up if the Dear Lord wakes me each morning and grants me another day.  The next thing I must do is get out of bed, make it, and start in on the day's chores and expectations and be ready for all the wonderful surprises the Good Lord brings my way.

There are days when He doesn't bring me anything new or wonderful, just the same old routine.  But even in that if I sit down and consider all that my life holds, I can weep.  I have so much to be grateful for in the most boring day of all.  It will still be in a home with my daughter who loves and honors me so.  It will still be a place that keeps me warm if I'm cold, cool if I'm hot and a refrigerator and cabinets filled with food if I'm hungry.  I will still have things to write, emails to answer, books to read, a favorite TV show to watch or a card to make, painting to paint, jigsaw puzzle to finish or start. I could go on and on really.  Life is just so full and rich no matter what.

When I saw the movie, "Slumdog Millionnaire", it struck me how people live the life they are given.  It certainly wasn't their choice to be born in the slums of India but the two brothers in the movie lived that life and survived, well at least one did.  It made me consider if we believe in an Almighty God who is the Creator of all living things, as I do, well it all fits into His glorious plans.

We will never understand why an Incomprehensible God actually makes the choices He makes in our lives, maybe one day we will.  In the meantime, I always thank the Dear Lord for where in the world and time and family He chose to let me born.

The life we have is the one uniquely designed for us and part of it, sad to say, is aging and now that it has happened to me in more ways than I could have anticipated, I must deal.  Defeating old age is going to be a constant decision to never give in or out and do whatever it takes.  So that is exactly what I am going to do.

ANOTHER YEAR GONE

Well we begin a new year 2019 and even though my 76th is no different yet - my hope in it all is that it will be.  I am convicted NOT to beg merciful Jehovah Rapha to come and heal it all - even though I do, of course - but rather pray over and over again each day, "Dear Lord, grant me grace sufficient to accept and surrender totally to it all.  And to rejoice in each new day."

Pain is my krypton and I'm a real wimp about it which means whatever aches I may be bemoaning, they are very little compared to the real harsh pain others live with all the time.

Joni Earickson Tada has a BEYOND SUFFERING BIBLE that the Lord led me to buy when it first came out.  It definitely can put me  in my place when I need it.  It is also most encouraging and informative about why there is suffering in this world.

I do know this and believe fervently that each day the Lord wakes me up is the day I must do all I can to please Him and to serve Him.  In my life this will mean being there for my loved family and friends and doing whatever I can to encourage and comfort and enjoy any time spent for and with them.

I pray that 2019 is a wonderful year for us all and that we have many surprises and adventures in store.