By David Roper, Pastor, and regular and popular writer for Our Daily Bread.
ear dull, the breath short, the heart faint, the hand
unsteady, and the golden bowl of life almost broken.
And because these things are in contrast with the
long day of usefulness which you once enjoyed, you
are inclined to be despondent; you feel that you are
a burden to others, and that you are in their way.
Carolyn will tell you that I'm an impossibly optimistic person who rarely sees the difficulties in life that others see. I awaken most mornings full of lively enthusiasm, an attitude reminiscent (remind something) of Mad magazine's mascot, Alfred E. Neuman: "What, me worry?"
Lately, however, when I allow my thoughts to dwell on the fact that I'm well past prime, I find myself somewhat deflated. Yet these pensive (reflective) moments can be good for the heart, because they make me think long and earnestly about my motives, intentions, enthusiasms, and real interests. (Ecclesiastes 7:3)
My melancholy, as I'm beginning to understand it, comes mostly from losses and consequent disappointment, from the realization that certain activities I've enjoyed must now be curtailed. There are some things - activities from which I formerly derived great satisfaction - that I can no longer enjoy. They're much too difficult for an older man to do. I'm no longer equal to the tasks that once I undertook with ease.
Such brooding only leads to deeper discouragement, however. So I'm learning to ask myself, "Can I be content with these losses, knowing that losses are part of aging and as such are the will of God?"
Dr. Robert Horton, a Bible scholar and teacher, who, in the zenith of his career, could hold congregations spellbound by his eloquence, in his last years struggled from the feeling that he had been set aside. Churches no longer wanted his services, publishers no longer sought his manuscripts, people didn't ask for his counsel.
"A man discovers one day that his mind has lost its old elasticity," he wrote, "that it is no longer equal to the tasks laid upon it; and that those who came after him are being preferred before him. Fretful (miserable) impatience cannot alter the facts, although it may murder his own peace of mind. Let him accept them as the will of God for him; then all the bitterness goes."
So, with this encouragement I say to myself, "If I accept my lot with a quiet patience, not chafing (rubbing) against it, I will find that it's not without its compensations." Indeed, "in acceptance lieth peace."
God's will is a soft pillow for my head and a place of peace and comfort for my heart.
My anchor ground, my fortress hill,
My spirit's silent, fair abode,
in Thee I hide me, and am still.
Within this place of certain good,
Love evermore expands her wings,
Or nestling in Thy perfect choice,
Abides content with what it brings.
O lightest burden, sweetest yoke,
It lifts, it bears my happy soul,
It giveth wings to this poor heart;
My freedom is Thy grand control.
Upon God's will I lay me down,
As child upon its mother's breast;
No silken couch, nor softest bed,
Could ever give me such deep rest.
Thy wonderful, grand will my God,
With triumph now I make it mine;
And faith shall cry a joyous "Yes"
To every dear command of Thine.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyEQFDRV9iHUCsxm1p0-sOyt23kJjYGABanC4XCnZGsvASIvF3tRkgkZHOwVHEcSakidKXl1Dtm35lHvU2igiX1ugMnE44k_HYxB6uE6gsD_4mA5YzQUwPn4tyuvoOKbYjgHNrlE5HZEXR9NuSeRR5PUDUab_-I0Vwrfqta9WMthAqou2KRtjG_8Xe=s667
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you undertook with ease. The eye may be dim, the
ear dull, the breath short, the heart faint, the hand
unsteady, and the golden bowl of life almost broken.
And because these things are in contrast with the
long day of usefulness which you once enjoyed, you
are inclined to be despondent; you feel that you are
a burden to others, and that you are in their way.
Picture posted by BibleTruth
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https://bibletruthpublishers.com/the-best-is-yet-to-be-paperback/henry-durbanville-g-henderson/pd1131
Carolyn will tell you that I'm an impossibly optimistic person who rarely sees the difficulties in life that others see. I awaken most mornings full of lively enthusiasm, an attitude reminiscent (remind something) of Mad magazine's mascot, Alfred E. Neuman: "What, me worry?"
Lately, however, when I allow my thoughts to dwell on the fact that I'm well past prime, I find myself somewhat deflated. Yet these pensive (reflective) moments can be good for the heart, because they make me think long and earnestly about my motives, intentions, enthusiasms, and real interests. (Ecclesiastes 7:3) [245]
Picture posted by wikiwand.com
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https://www.wikiwand.com/tr/Vikipedi:Se%C3%A7kin_resimler/Bilim/Biyoloji
My melancholy, as I'm beginning to understand it, comes mostly from losses and consequent disappointment, from the realization that certain activities I've enjoyed must now be curtailed. There are some things - activities from which I formerly derived great satisfaction - that I can no longer enjoy. They're much too difficult for an older man to do. I'm no longer equal to the tasks that once I undertook with ease.
Such brooding only leads to deeper discouragement, however. So I'm learning to ask myself, "Can I be content with these losses, knowing that losses are part of aging and as such are the will of God?"
Such brooding only leads to deeper discouragement, however. So I'm learning to ask myself, "Can I be content with these losses, knowing that losses are part of aging and as such are the will of God?"
Picture posted by The Economic Times on 01 November 2017 at 06:09 PM IST
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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/worried-about-getting-older-math-says-it-is-impossible-to-halt-ageing-in-humans/articleshow/61409306.cms?from=mdr
Dr. Robert Horton, a Bible scholar and teacher, who, in the zenith of his career, could hold congregations spellbound by his eloquence, in his last years struggled from the feeling that he had been set aside. Churches no longer wanted his services, publishers no longer sought his manuscripts, people didn't ask for his counsel.
"A man discovers one day that his mind has lost its old elasticity," he wrote, "that it is no longer equal to the tasks laid upon it; and that those who came after him are being preferred before him. Fretful (miserable) impatience cannot alter the facts, although it may murder his own peace of mind. Let him accept them as the will of God for him; then all the bitterness goes." [246]
Picture posted by Hello Woodlands
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So, with this encouragement I say to myself, "If I accept my lot with a quiet patience, not chafing (rubbing) against it, I will find that it's not without its compensations." Indeed, "in acceptance lieth peace." [247]
God's will is a soft pillow for my head and a place of peace and comfort for my heart.
Picture posted by Adobe Stock
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My anchor ground, my fortress hill,
My spirit's silent, fair abode,
in Thee I hide me, and am still.
Within this place of certain good,
Love evermore expands her wings,
Or nestling in Thy perfect choice,
Abides content with what it brings.
O lightest burden, sweetest yoke,
It lifts, it bears my happy soul,
It giveth wings to this poor heart;
My freedom is Thy grand control.
Upon God's will I lay me down,
As child upon its mother's breast;
No silken couch, nor softest bed,
Could ever give me such deep rest.
Thy wonderful, grand will my God,
With triumph now I make it mine;
And faith shall cry a joyous "Yes"
To every dear command of Thine.
PHOTO: . . . . Thy wonderful, grand will my God, With triumph now I make it mine; And faith shall cry a joyous "Yes" To every dear command of Thine.
Picture posted by Adobe Stock
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Our melancholy, comes mostly from losses and consequent disappointment, from the realization that certain activities we've enjoyed must now be curtailed. There are some things - activities from which we formerly derived great satisfaction - that we can no longer enjoy. They're much too difficult for an older man to do. We’re no longer equal to the tasks that once we undertook with ease.
Such brooding only leads to deeper discouragement. And we learn to ask ourselves whether we can be content with these losses, knowing that losses are part of aging and as such are the will of God.
We learn of a Bible scholar and teacher, who, in the zenith of his career, could hold congregations spellbound by his eloquence, in his last years struggled from the feeling that he had been set aside. Churches no longer wanted his services, publishers no longer sought his manuscripts, people didn't ask for his counsel.
‘A man discovers one day that his mind has lost its old elasticity,’ he wrote ‘that it is no longer equal to the tasks laid upon it; and that those who came after him are being preferred before him. Fretful impatience cannot alter the facts, although it may murder his own peace of mind. Let him accept them as the will of God for him; then all the bitterness goes.’
Lord, help us with this encouragement and say to ourselves, ‘If we accept our lot with a quiet patience, not chafing against it, we will find that it's not without its compensations, because in acceptance lieth peace.’
We pray that Your will is a soft pillow for our head and a place of peace and comfort for our heart.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Shutterstock
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Source (book): "Teach Us to Number Our Days", Chapter 47, "Things I Can't Do Any Longer", Page 217.
By David Roper, Pastor, and regular and popular writer for Our Daily Bread.
Other Books
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
"Teach Us to Number Our Days", © 2008 by David Roper
Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
[245] Ecclesiastes 7:3
[246] Quoted by Henry Durbanville, The Best Is Yet to Be (Barbour: Edinburgh, Scotland, 1950), 38.
[247] Amy Carmichael, "Where Lieth Peace?"
Links
New International Version (NIV), Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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