Age Is Just a Number
Recently I hit the "six-zero." I had been dreading it for months. The reality sunk in that I have lived most of my life! Even if I lived to my eighties, that is but a vapor as I see time speeding along.
Recently I hit the "six-zero." I had been dreading it for months. The reality sunk in that I have lived most of my life! Even if I lived to my eighties, that is but a vapor as I see time speeding along.
Well, the dreaded day came, the big 60! I could not stop it unless I died. I can say with confidence that I would rather hit the 60 than the alternative. However I was still feeling a little down and discouraged, so as I always do when I feel this way, I silently asked God to encourage me. No sooner had I completed that silent request to my "Chief Encourager," my Father in Heaven, when I was called to the front desk. There on the counter sat a vase of beautiful yellow roses. My dear friend Cheryl from Texas had sent me six beautiful yellow roses. While carrying them to my desk, I looked up and said, "Father, that was fast encouragement!" But God was not done with the love and encouragement. Sometimes you can be so down that you need a lot of extra encouragement, as I did that day.
I returned to my desk still admiring the beautiful yellow roses and thanking God when I was once again called to the front desk. There waiting for me was a man with a huge bag of balloons and a beautiful arrangement of fall-color flowers. While engaging in conversation with the delivery man, he told me he was 82! He began to tell me of all the things he was involved in. He said he volunteers 40 hours a week delivering flowers to people! He loved it! He also hosts dinner parties and cooks for the guests for the blind. He said he retired many years ago but felt he had to stay busy. After my conversation with this man, I went back to my desk totally humbled but very encouraged.
I had to look up and chuckle at my Father in Heaven, because it was like he inspired this 82-year-old man to deliver the flowers to a very down, 60-year-old woman. This man made me realize that age is just a number. The key ingredient to help us live an abundant, vibrate life, is our attitude of mind: service to God, and service to others. It is also knowing how special seniors are to God.
God has special respect for the aged among us, seniors like me! Yep, I included myself in that group for the first time! Job 12:12 says, "Wisdom is with aged men, with long life is understanding." The 82-year-old delivery man reminds me of Psalm 92:14: "They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green."
Certainly, the 82-year-old delivery man was yielding fruit in his old age.
That day, I realized that age is only a number. It is your Father in Heaven, your friends, and your family while reaching out in service to others that gives you a life full. Make every day count, because it is indeed fleeting!
Course Content
Janet Treadway
Janet Treadway was born in Washington, D.C., but was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. She started attending the Church of God with her mother at the age of 14 along with her twin brother, Jim.
She was baptized at the age of 19 in 1974. She has been involved in various activities, such as serving as the managing editor of UCG’s first teen magazine UsTeens, which was distributed worldwide and published in English and Spanish.
Janet’s first love is writing. She has contributed many articles in various publications such as Vertical Thought, Virtual Christian Magazine, United News and others. Her article “Take Action, Your Life May Depend on It” is also featured in the reprint “The Cycle of Abuse.” Janet draws from her own life’s experiences and challenges when she writes and is motivated to give readers hope that God will see them through anything.
Janet has worked in the home office of the United Church of God since 1998. She is married to Charles Treadway and has four children, David, Michelle, Michael and Josh, as well as six grandchildren and two granddogs, Jo Jo and Vinny.
