Growing Old Gracefully
It started out as any ordinary day but ended up literally me being flat on my face. I am an avid sports fan. Ask any of my children. I have been so blessed this holiday season with the number of games I can watch from my own loungeroom. If it’s not swimming (the short-course championships), it’s been rugby, cricket (either T20 or Test matches), tennis, basketball, soccer and even American football. (Yes, I’m slowly learning the rules.)
The opportunity arose to get cheap tennis tickets to see Greece play against Bulgaria. Tsitsipas was playing, for any of you tennis fans. We arrived early and parked underneath the stadium. The doors were not yet opened so my daughter and I went looking for a coffee to buy outside the complex but sadly no cafeteria was open yet. Bruce stayed waiting in the car. As we returned to the car wearing my dark sunglasses, I found it slightly dark to see clearly. Well, that is my excuse. Stupid me though could have removed the sunglasses and I would have seen very clearly. In one part of the carpark the floor was painted dark blue and there were also yellow lines painted to designate car spaces and curbs. As I was chatting to my daughter, I stepped off a curb but thought it was the same level as what I was walking on, mistaking the yellow line for a carpark space and my whole body crumpled. My daughter said I did a dive and roll. It happened so quickly. One minute I was upright, the next minute I was splat on the floor. My bag and phone went flying and I landed on my knee and fell to the ground. I sat there in shock as my daughter cried out “Oh Mum!”
Anyone been there? I was still in shock so did not feel like a fool, not yet anyway. After shakily getting up and dusting myself off, I flexed my muscles to see where I might have done any damage. Just a graze on my knee where I had fallen and a few bruises to my body and a bruise to my ego.
Reflecting upon what had happened later I thanked my guardian angel for protecting me. I could have broken a leg and had way more injuries, I thanked my daughter who had bought me a new phone case and it protected my phone from being smashed and then I thanked God for everything in between. The thought that lingered was ‘how frail humanity is.’
In the book of Job it tells us this.
Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.
They spring up like flowers and wither away.
Job 14:1-2
Frail more in body as we get older, physically. Hopefully though stronger and wiser in character, spiritually and mentally.
But whatever age we are, we are reliant upon God who has numbered our days before the beginning of our lives. Each and every one of us. As we age, our bodies often become less able, less agile and changes occur to us inside and out. Yes, ladies we can’t stop it happening, but we can adjust to those changes with a positive attitude. I always wanted to “grow old gracefully” and funny to say but from this small fall I am going to implement more changes into my life so that this happens. (I have started some weight training to help my muscles and reflexes.)
I do want you all to know, though, that frailty is not weakness! It is just another stage of our lives that our bodies are not as strong. I am stronger in myself than I have ever been. This is due to my surrender to the Lord. It’s more complete, more whole than I have ever done. Hopefully with the grace of God I can continue with this beautiful surrender in my life till the day I am called home.
What are you going to be doing as you age? Going into your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond?
It is actually never too late to start, especially with a positive God given attitude of gratitude and thankfulness.
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Have you changed some of the things that you do physically in your life?
How are you surrendering to God more as you age?
Can you surrender to God more with gratefulness? What are you grateful about?
9 Comments
Donna
Good topic Rosemary. I think too many people try way too hard to avoid the pitfalls of aging but with God’s help we can accept them and even overcome some of them.
PS – I have taken a few embarrassing falls myself – thankfully I rarely get hurt very badly!
Cindy
Thank you for your heartfelt post. My father passed at 93 and as he aged he did so with grace and dignity. I am striving to be like him but am having difficulty facing up to it. Prayer and the grace of God have been helpful (but am not completely there yet). Currently I am 68. God‘s blessings to you and the family.💕
Patty Huerta
Thank you for being so open, I’ll be 60, if God’s willing, in June and my falls have been a few the physical ones, the emotional ones have hurt the most. I cannot thank our Lord enough for His generous love & support emotionally, daily He provided all I need. Continued blessings to you n your family. 🙏
Valerie Lack
Hi Rosemary, falling gives one such a shock, doesn’t”t it. One minute all is well, feet solidly on the ground and the next minute, you find yourself with the rug literally pulled out from under you.
I also had a fall recently, in the cat park. Robert, who we all call Bob, my husband of nearly 62 years, had finished shopping. We have a routine where we stow the shopping and while he makes sure it is secure, my job is to put the trolley back in the trolley bay
All was as normal until I turned to go back to the car, there was a big SUV parked right next to the trolley bay and as I set off, he was moving. He did not see me and I must admit that as I was wearing dark glasses because of recent cataract surgery, I did not see him fast enough
In turning to avoid being hit, down I went. The car was still reversing and I had to roll out of the way. I swear GOD and many Angels were with me that day I scrapped skin off an elbow, a knee and bruised a hip. How blessed not to have broken anything other than skin. At 80 years of age my gratitude to the dear Lord GOD is intense
Helen Jobe
Happy New Year to you and Bruce and your family. This struck a cord with me Rosemary. We have been in Australia for 6 weeks visiting our daughter Claire and her husband and our two little granddaughters. Great trip. Long story short last Thursday before flying home on Friday I tripped over a raised pavement. Put my arms down to save my face and teeth and have fractured both elbows- radial head and put my teeth through my lip. Thank the good Lord I didn’t break my teeth.Out of action for a few weeks but could have been worse. My lovely husband is supporting and helping me. I am a fit 74 year old so not used to taking things easy or slowly. Offering it back at the foot of the Cross. Take care xox
Rosemary Downes
Oh dear- – falls are the worst, shakes you up, well I’ve got nothing to complain about – I did not break anything. Praying for a quick recovery and that you enjoy being waited upon! Glad you could come to our beautiful country and visit family- love and Gods blessings
Valerie Simms
Thank you Rosemary for bringing this topic of aging gracefully up!!! I have to admit that in my late teens and early adulthood I used to participate in quite a few exercise classes, After having my son that all stopped for awhile. Until we moved into an apartment block with a swimming pool. This made me recall when I was living with my parents in my late teens, I heard a neighbour screaming. Both my sister and I went outside to see what had happened. We both saw over our fence, our neighbour in her swimming pool, trying to drag her four year old young son with his face in the water out of the pool. I told my sister I’m going to ring an ambulance! While I was on the phone, our neighbour’s thirteen year old nephew came to the rescue, by giving her young son mouth to mouth resuscitation and CPR! The young boy whose face had turned blue began to breathe! This memory compelled me to go and have swimming lessons, as at age 34 I could not swim. If my son fell into the pool where we were living, I couldn’t jump in to save him! I thank the Lord now that this never happened to my son!!! But in later years, where I am now living, my husband and I were heading out of our apartment block through the emergency exit. I was too busy chatting to my husband when all of a sudden, my foot hit a cement block and I tripped! If it were not for my husband being in front of me, which I bumped into his back I would have landed face down on the pavement!!! All I could say was ” Thank You Lord!” and ” Angels must have been looking after me!!!” But again I had another fall. This time I wanted to see outside our apartment door, what was behind the tinted glass panels, So I grabbed a chair and tried looking over the glass panel. I still couldn’t see. I looked around and saw a washing basket. I turned the washing basket upside down and pressed down heavily upon it and noticed it didn’t buckle. So I placed it upside down on the chair and stepped on it. Low and behold the washing basket buckled!!! I slid down from the chair what seemed in slow motion, sliding all the way down to the floor, without smashing any glass and not causing any damage to myself!!! Again I thanked the Lord and mentioned that angels must have been looking after me!!! Did I do this again??? NO NEVER!!!
I will be sixty five in February and I too Rosemary need to be doing exercises and watch how much I eat!!! Resistance exercises and walking in the sunshine getting my vitamin D and just maybe aquarobics? But also THANKING OUR LORD for His beautiful creation, feeling and breathing the breeze He has created and smelling all His flowers, as well as the sunshine and the birds!!! And let’s not forget to THANK HIM for all those times He has saved us from injury and in my case from cancer!!! Thank You Lord God and thank You for Your Angels!!! Thank You Lord for Rosemary’s Jottings in her Journal!! Please keep blessing her and inspiring her Lord I pray!!!
Bye for now Rosemary and all you ladies who participate and make comments!!!
Kim
I can do relate to all of these comments! I am becoming more aware of safety to prevent falls. I don’t step on chairs anymore (too hard to step up onto them), I have a very handy step stool! My sons used to sit on the stool when in between the high chair and a “big person” chair. Now my grandson sits on the stool. I like to think that God gives us tools to help us age more gracefully! He always cares for us and guards us, but also gives us awareness!
Christine
Yes, I know how you felt after your fall. I fell down in the dark last month after a
Women’s Fellowship meeting in a local Village Hall. One minute I was walking up some stone steps and the next , flat on my tummy with ripped tights and a big gash in my knee. Like you said it could have been a lot worse, but you feel a bit shaken up. Rosemary I listen every day to yourself and Bruce. I can’t tell you how much your daily devotionals have helped me, It’s too long to explain but my eldest daughter broke off all contact with me 5 years ago , would not give me a reason and left me totally blindsided and broken hearted. Every attempt to engage with her since has been met with silence. Her partner is very controlling and I believe he has influenced her against me. He never liked her spending any time with me and often contrived to take time off his job when he knew we were meeting. Turning up at a cafe or shopping trip out of the blue. It wasn’t good but I didn’t make a fuss. Now I wish I had said more as often when I went to their home the two of them would beliitle me in front of the grandchildren, mak8ng jokes at my expense etc.m.
You and Bruce have really helped me . I have a strong Christian faith but since I found your devotionals I have improved in lots of ways. Believe me , I have been so depressed, it’s been like a living death, I don’t think I will get over it actually. Her younger sister has also been cut off, in fact all her family members have been given the same treatment. I am praying to God to soften my daughters heart, and I pray for our reconciliation one day if that is God’s will. Thank you for listening Rosemary. I love to hear your words on your site. Good Bless you: Bruce and family , With love Christine 🙏❤️🙋♀️