About 14 years ago I was taking care of my grandson, Brian. I was pushing him in the tree swing in their back yard. Always eager for adventure and excitement, he wanted to be pushed higher and higher.
"Granddad, push me up to the branches."
"Granddad push me up to the sky."
"Granddad, push me up to God."
We finished the swing and as he hopped out of the seat, I asked him if he went up to the branches.
"Yep!"
Did you go up to the sky? "Yep!"
Did you go up to God? "Yep!"
"And what did God say?"
"He said you are going to see him soon. You're getting old."
He caught me off guard and shook me up a bit.
From his point of view I was old, but I didn't and still do not feel old. Age is strange. We do know our bodies age, however we do rebuild with new cells, including brain cells, about every 7 years. Age is more an attitude. We all know people who live and think as if they were much older than they are. And we are amazed by people who have lived years and continue to think young thoughts.
You see, in many ways age is not something that happens to us, it is the attitude we choose. I once had a friend whose name was Champ Marble. At age 100 he bought a new car, in fact a Buick Century (true story), drove until he was 104, and entertained the children in the local barber shop waiting for haircuts with hand puppets until he was 103.
Two days ago I was again with Brian. Only now he is 18. With a big broad smile, he looked me over and said, "Granddad, you have to get rid of those shoes. Those are old man's shoes. I don't ever want to see them again. Get some new Nikes. Come on Granddad, get with it."
What a terrific gift from my grandson.
Jesus said: "I have come that you might have life... be fully alive" at whatever age. |