Aging Gracefully~ Seventy-Something ~ Part 2

Today my sweet friend Marion Bond West Acuff is sharing part two of Aging Gracefully~A Seventy Something Perspective. She shared Part One last week  in case you missed it, have a look!

Marion is a long time writer for Guideposts Magazine, now a Contributing Editor. She’s written seven books, her latest: Praying For My Life is available through Amazon. Here are her final thoughts on aging…

Thoughts on my Looks…

I grieve my youthful and much taken for granted 24 inch waist.  When I hold my tummy in and squint I can still see my twentish figure. But really, everything’s changed. I’ve recently discovered back fat. I keep remembering how my mother cooked all our veggies in fat back. I can hardly look at my back without thinking about that…I try to convince myself that by morning it will be gone.

Thoughts on my feelings…

I’ve come to believe that our thoughts create our emotions. We only have 8 seconds to refuse a thought. This has taken a life-time to even start to learn. I guard my thoughts like a mother lion guards her cubs. I’m allergic to fearful or worrying thoughts. They are not permitted to trespass in my mind. This discipline helps me every day.

Worry is a waste of time. I never thought I’d be free of worry and fear. They were constant companions. Not anymore. I give God praise for all He’s allowed to come into my life that’s allowed me to relinquish those two bothersome tag-alongs. Anyone can be free of them. It’s never too late.

Thoughts on grown children…

I’ve learned that we can’t force a grown child to choose life. I don’t believe this is ever learned quickly or easily. Pain after pain after pain was my solution. I can’t do this, I told myself one day. I thought God smiled and said, Of course not, child. You never were supposed to.

I have a son in prison and I can thank God because he is safe. I also thank Him for his twin brother who has done a 180* turn around and now takes his bipolar meds and attends AA and Celebrate Recovery.  Grown children make their own choices. Sometimes all we can do is stop trying to  fix them and pray hard.

Thoughts on friends…

I have friends of all ages now.  From teenagers to seniors much older than I am. Age isn’t a consideration at this time in my life! I’ve learned not to say everything I think. Sometimes when I see a need that deserves to be met and there’s no one around but me, I meet it and my joy is explosive. People all around us need compassion (not pity). Some need a little money. Some need to laugh. And some need a Savior. Even something as small as a smile

Thoughts on doing what I love…

Reading. I’ve always loved to read. Now, I can read an entire book with only a couple of short breaks. Books are my passion. Some of my favorites are: The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by-Hannah Whitall Smith, The Inward Journey by Gene Edwards, Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets. I love all of Catherine Marshall’s books as well as Jamie Buckingham’s. I have favorite non-Christian authors too, but I can’t spell their names. Alas! I still type on my 27 year old IbM Selectric 2. No computer. One day I may be the only person in the world who can change the ribbons on an IBM.

Thoughts on love…

When my husband of 25 years died of brain cancer in 1983, I knew my life was over.I couldn’t imagine going on. My greatest battle with fear ensued. God won that battle for me. It was moment by moment agony though. I was 46 when Jerry died and after a year or so I began to talk to God about being a wife again. I like being the other half of someone. After four years he brought a Guideposts reader into my life and we fell in love through letters and phone calls. In a four-month delicious courtship (in which we never met until becoming engaged) my life began over. I was so in love I couldn’t eat or sleep or concentrate. I grinned all the time and took the phone into the closet to talk. (Still had children at home) Gene Acuff and I have been married for 23 years. Sigh! He made me feel like Cinderella–and still does occasionally!

Life is good … welcome every day, every year, with an open heart.

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I so love this Marion. You’ve made me feel excited about being seventy-something! I love that God helped you to leave behind fear and worry.  And what bliss to be able to sit down and read a book right through ! You are an inspiration and your life truly is good.

Love to all of you Peeps…I’m praying for all of  the needs you mentioned last week. Do one little something today that makes you smile~