The Older We Get
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“When you have kids, you’ll understand.”
“When you become a grandparent, you’ll get it.”
“When things stop working like they should, it’ll make more sense.”
I’ve heard those older than me say these things as long as I can remember. With each new season, someone who is a bit farther along than me always shares a tidbit of wisdom similar to these statements. Yesterday, another one of those statements hit me while we were singing in church. “The older you get, the more you long for heaven.”
While we sang songs of praise and thanksgiving, I scanned the sanctuary. Some of the oldest members of our congregation held a hand high in the air, many from a seated position, and wiped a tear from their eye with the other hand. Yearning spread across their faces.
Many of these folks have bodies that are failing them. They’ve spent much of their adult lives serving Jesus and now, they are struggling to keep the pace they always have. Failing health and slips and falls have contributed to their unwanted season, but none of those things have shaken their faith.
The closer they get to the end of their days, the closer they are to their heavenly home. Daily chores are a struggle. Many of the hobbies they once enjoyed aren’t possible anymore. Often, they wrestle with their purpose. But despite all of that, their faith in Jesus grows stronger every day.
The older we get, the closer we are to dying.
The older we get, the less we feel like we think we should.
The older we get, the more we understand about this fallen world.
The older we get, the more out of place we feel on this earth.
The older we get, the more heaven feels like home.
