Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
Last week I was blessed to officiate at the wedding of a beautiful young woman who had been a member of the congregation I once pastored. It was a joy to watch as she and her tall fiancé posed for photographs before the ceremony. I could almost visualize when I had dedicated her to the Lord in front of the congregation many years earlier.
As I stood there watching while the photos were being taken, the bride’s younger sister took my hand and shared how much she liked me. Then she uttered the gut honest words that can only come from an eight-year-old. “We have a picture of you in the house. You sure look a lot older now than you did then.”
She did not say these words to show any sort of disrespect, but with a simple awareness of the fact that YES, I DO LOOK OLDER NOW THAN I DID THEN. The reason is that these bodies of ours reflect the years we have lived.
I shudder at the lengths people will go in the attempt to disguise their age. I can still recall when I had a haircut and was shocked at all of the grey hair on the cape the barber had placed around my shoulders. It is nothing to be ashamed about. Oh, how I wish that more appreciation were placed on advanced age in our society. As we read the words of today’s Scripture, we note that these can be the most productive years of our life. Senior citizens, serve the Lord with distinction!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil