I have a self imposed rule...I can't get out the Fall dishes until I spy some of the leaves around my yard begin to turn yellow. I believe the branch above qualifies, and with glee today I unboxed my leaf plates and pumpkin coffee cups...I know, I know, it is early, but then I get to drink my morning coffee tomorrow out of a cup that looks like a pumpkin!
I have been noticing lately that when I get out of bed in the morning, my joints are a little stiff. They loosen up pretty quick after that, but still it is a reminder that I ain't as young as I used to be!
Being middle aged has its limitations (bifocals!) but it also has its bonuses. I was thinking today that one of the greatest gifts of middle age is that you no longer expect everything in your life to be perfect, or even good all the time. You begin to understand that you will go through trials and tribulations, and times of joy and excitement. Times of strife, and times of peace and quiet. You find that the only thing that doesn't change is Jesus. When you cling to Him you get through the bad times, and He enhances the good times. Life gets better as Christ becomes your anchor when the sea gets rocky, or smooth. As Paul said,
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Philippians 4:11).
Paul found contentment in Christ.
I have also noticed another gift of aging, and that is that the little things become big blessings. When you are young you expect so much...big things, big news. It is an exciting time of life. But when you get older, the smallest things are so exciting. I could name at least 5 things that were exciting to me today...in fact, I think that I will! There is a tiny baby rabbit that has been living in my bushes around my front yard. I see him when I go in and out the gate, and he is comfortable enough with me now not to dart off when he sees me. I picked two tomatoes off of my tomato plant, and smelled them. I love the smell of just picked tomatoes. I spied a mother deer and three baby fawns crossing the road at the end of my block...marching right down the center of the road like they owned the place! I got out my Fall dishes and put them on the shelf. I tried a new recipe at lunch, and got to use my own homegrown zuchinni. My husband actually liked it!
You see, none of those things are big things, just everyday little blessings. When I was younger I probably wouldn't have paid much attention to them. But get a bit of age on you, and you will find that you start paying attention to the small stuff.
So tomorrow, my joints will be stiff when I get out of bed. I will have to wear bifocals to make my pot of coffee, BUT I will get to drink it out of a pumpkin cup. Now, that's excitement! DLB


