I’m feeling old lately.
I suppose it’s not unusual for someone who’s getting close to 50 to feel the effects of time.
But it’s unusual for me.
After all, I’ve never been on this journey before and there’s a thick fog of insecurity that blurs my vision and keeps me from navigating this path with confidence.
On most days, I’ve no idea how to maneuver through the aching joints, the near blindness and the hormones dying a loud and painful death all-the-while trying to age with grace and live the second half of my life strong and with purpose.
Yesterday morning I was wandering around the yard, camera in hand, trying to escape my unrelenting melancholy.
Stopping at my hydrangea bushes, I was taken with the sheer number of blooms.
They’re in full glory right now.
As I looked through my camera lens wanting to capture just a bit their beauty, I noticed that some of the older blooms are starting to fade.
They look very different than the vibrant newer flowers…
Their colors gentle and serene.
Their petals tender… almost translucent.
Taking shot after shot, clarity as bright as the morning sun, bathed my mind…
The fog cleared and from my heart a prayer took flight…
As I travel this journey towards eternity,
help me to be gentle in word…
serene in countenance…
tender in heart…and translucent in purpose…
which is Christ in me, the hope of glory…
~Praying that you find beauty in your day my friends~
Wow, that’s beautiful Robin! Growing older is a mixed emotional journey. But with that journey comes a deeper understanding of life and eternity. I hear and understand more clearly the words of my elders, “my body may be older but my mind is still young”! Enjoy each day with youthful zest regardless of the groans your body makes.
Rose, you are truly young! You and Brenda inspire me to love my life.
xo
Wow Robin this caught my eye because of the blue hydrangeas. My grandmother had an extra large bush on the side of her house. Rachael just used them in her wedding to honor my grandma. The faded ones have always been my favorite. Wonderful blog site. Thank you for sharing your many talents and your precious thoughts!
Carolyn…thank you for being so encouraging. I feel like I know you 🙂
What a lovely tribute to your grandma by the way…xo
Beautifully written…your words touch the spirit. I turned 60 a few months ago and I know too well the physical aspects of aging, things out of our control and learning how to manage the outworkings. What doesn’t change is our desire to live a full and satisfying life within those physical constraints. Learning to listen and nurture our spiritual life is indeed one of the blessings of slowing down our lives …how grateful we can be for this time in our lives because there is no more important relationship! xo
Lila…I love the discipline of nurturing our spiritual life. Beautiful thoughts…xo
Beautiful photos and powerful words. I love the analogy between the stages of the flowers and our journey of aging. Thank you so much for sharing your heart today. This is very timely for me. Blessings, SusanD
.-= SusanD´s last blog ..Throne Trip Tuesday – Judge Gently =-.
Susan D~ Hey Sweetie! Just so glad to see your name…love to you.xo
What a beautiful post, Robin. I love hydrangeas and my blue bush is at its all time best this year. Aging has left me curious as to how to do it gracefully, too. There really is a beauty in it and adventure as well. I figure I have had a lifetime of learning patience, forgiveness, and courage. I can now apply that to the limitations of my aging body and move on to joy. Isn’t it a sweet gift from God, as well, to let our bodies “fade” so the we will long for our heavenly home even more?
Jane…that’s key…God letting our bodies fade so we’ll long for our heavenly home…this is what keeps me from being profoundly sad when I see an older person who is suffering…it won’t be long until they are free, with a new body and mind. love u
50! Why you are soooooooooooo old! Wait until you get young like me at 57! Then talk about feeling old. Man, the joints ache a little more. The strength is not as strong. The stamina is not as staminized. The muscles don’t muscle like they used to. The legs don’t climb the hills on the bike like they used to. But life is good! It offers me Christ…who offers me joy, laughter, friends, and a reason to hope. Praying your day will blessed beyond measure my friend. Love and hugs to you today.
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..Giving God Permission =-.
No doubt you are a YOUNG 57 my friend the way you ride that bike every day! Kudos to you 🙂
love and hugs!
Beautiful. What stands out to me is “Yesterday morning I was wandering around the yard, camera in hand” and “from my heart a prayer took flight…
” . Whether escaping something or just reflecting I so wish I spent more time just doing this. Amazing what sights we will see and what prayers will take flight.
Thanks for the reminder to pause and reflect today and see what prayer takes flight!
.-= Tom Raines´s last blog ..Today’s Affirmation- Certainly God is with me =-.
Tom…so true. I need to have more time listening…
YES……YES……and….. YES……. Have a wonderful day……
Sharon…I wrote this the morning before we talked…I know you understand. love u
So beautifully written, my dear friend. I gave Mom a hydrangea a few years ago. She was enjoying it yesterday–watering it and loving on it.
Such a fine way to continue on this path–taking in beauty.
Love,
Your Fifty Year Old Friend
Julie…both you and MBWA are beautiful example of aging gracefully…love you to the moon.
I turned 49 yesterday and can relate to your post in so many ways. You never fail to amaze me, you’re such a beautiful person and I love taking this walk into this stage of my life with you.
Thank you for always being able to say what I’m thinking, but you say it with so much grace and style.
Connie
.-= Connie´s last blog ..Light and Easy Vegetarian Potato and Leek Soup =-.
loved your post the flowers were beautiful. i’ m 61, I have never got stuck on age except menopause. yes, our muscles get tired, but we can still be young in spirit and enjoy life’s experiences. have a good day
.-= rose´s last blog ..JULY 4th =-.
Rose…”young in spirit and enjoy life’s experiences”…so simple and so profound. love to you my friend.
Xxcceelleenntte’ ~
Daddy…thank you 🙂
And thank you for showing me how to age with grace. You just keep getting better and better. I love you.
How did you know that this is EXACTLY what I needed this morning!!!???? I swear, I JUST wrote on FB(a note to my SIL) that I do NOT feel like I look good anymore. Aging is HARD for me….and I am alot older than you. It is tough to see your looks diminish, and fade. Hopefully, that can be replaced with a radiance from within that shines through. I am TRYING:):) Thanks so much for these beautiful, encouraging words my friend! I will go look at MY hydrangeas now and see all of the beauty in ALL of the blooms! XO, Pinky
Pinky…it’s so TRUE! However it sounds…it’s true, it’s tough to see your looks diminish. TOUGH. I think you either go nuts focusing on how bad you feel about yourself or throw yourself into fighting age (all manner of plastic surgery) or you focus on God and serving others and “a radiance from within shines through…”
(I’m fairly certain that your radiance shines through my friend…I can see it from here.)
Beautiful post Miss Robin. The comparison of the newer blooms to the ones fading is an excellent picture of people growing older. I have decided that my age is just a number and am thankful God allowed me to reach this part of my journey. My High School Class of 1960 is planning a 50 Year reunion in August 2010. In the process of locating some missing classmates, we have found so many that have passed into eternity and others who are in ill health or disabled.
The fact that I can get up everyday and do the things I choose brings me great happiness and I am truly blessed. Live each day with Joy and Determination to be a blessing to others and the youth you perceive as lost will not be a concern. Do what you want to do while there is still time.
Brenda…you inspire me…as I’ve said before. xoxo
I’m 68 and I ache some mornings, but I am enjoying every moment of life. We retired 15 yeasrs ago, moved here, married off two daughters, became grandparents to three beautiful grandchildren, traveled to Africa, Italy, Australia, New Zeland and Bora Bora. I’d say life has been pretty exciting since I turned 50! I think you’ll find the best is yet to come, but get out an “do” and don’t sit around worring about your age!
Judy…WOW! You’ve been busy since you turned 50! I’m holding onto what you say…that the best is yet to come. xoxo
You are amazing at expressing your thoughts. Love this post.
Love you and miss you so much, wish I could visit or you could come see me!
Auntie Granny
I miss you Auntie Granny…
Thank you Robin! Having just turned 60 and trying to find the joy in life still this was an inspiration!
.-= Linda @ A La Carte´s last blog ..A GATHERING OF WHITES =-.
Happy 60th year Linda!!! xoxo
SO beautiful ! I love your thoughts today, I can FEEL what you are feeling.
Joanne…can you feel a hug? I’m sending one 🙂 xoxo
Love this, dear one. Your blooms are beautiful, no matter the season. First the bud, followed by passionate vibrance, into translucent peaceful beauty. Maybe a bit transparent, too, don’t you think? I feel your sweet honesty will touch many a heart here today, as it always does. Well said. Oh, and Robin? You don’t get to claim aching as a part of growing older 🙂 those chipper chickens among you lay claim to it as well *wink*
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Firecracker =-.
Smooches Shannon…ok Shannon, I’ll share the aching and won’t blame it on my “age and condition” ! 🙂
xoxo
I find beauty in you friend. Much beauty.
.-= gitz´s last blog ..Im WITH Him =-.
Gitz…sigh, right back at cha …xoxo
As I grow older ( I’m 53), I too think about the looks diminishing, having to grab my glasses whenever I want to read something, the menopause symptoms that I have been living with for 6 years and the stamina that seems to diminish a little more with each passing year. But then, I see others who are sick and hurting and I thank the Lord that at least I have my health and can enjoy each day relatively pain free. What a blessing!!!
A Bible verse that means more to me now than it did years ago is Proverbs 16:31: A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.
Your hydrangeas are beautiful! I was just talking on the phone this past weekend with my Mom and she was saying how full of blooms her hydrangea was this year. Did you know that the hydrangea stands for friendship, devotion, and understanding? I thought that was perfect for such a gentle, beautiful flower.
.-= Eileen´s last blog ..Neck Coolers =-.
A very encouraging and beautiful picture of clarity and purpose found in the beauty of God’s creation.
Beautiful pictures… wow you really have an eye for photography….
Enjoy each milestone we are given, for some have or never will make it there..
.-= Jeannie´s last blog ..Up On The Roof Top =-.
Such a beautiful post…so near to my heart. Thank you for sharing – the Hydrangeas are fantastic…my favorites!
.-= DeAnna´s last blog ..Back to Reality =-.
I turned 50 last October and haven’t been the same. Thank you for these words.
A lovely post…I’m 43 so I know more of this old age stuff is coming 🙂 I feel some of it already! eeekkkkkk!!!! 🙂 thanks for the beautiful perspective! xo
.-= melissa @ the inspired room´s last blog ..An Old Ladder Turned Wall Display Shelf =-.
oh robin… as always… so perfectly stated.
love to you…and all of yours… kisses for the puppies…
xxo, kim
.-= kim klassen´s last blog ..the perfect day series continues be yourselfeveryone else is taken =-.