Because wisdom grows when we decide with eternity in mind.
If life were a store, would you be proud of what’s in your cart?
Or would you feel the weight of impulsive purchases, emotional spending, and a few items you wish you’d never bought in the first place?
It’s a sobering question. And one that becomes increasingly relevant the older we get.
At 60 and beyond, we’re not browsing like we used to. We’re looking for meaning. For legacy. For impact. For peace. And perhaps, more than ever—we’re realizing that every decision we make matters.
Some of us are caretaking aging parents. Some are navigating life after loss—of a spouse, a home, a career, or a dream. Others are trying to reclaim their voice, their health, or their walk with God.
Many are wondering: What comes next for me?
This season of life asks new questions—and requires new kinds of choices.
Here’s a metaphor that brings this truth to life.
Life as the Ultimate Storefront
Imagine walking into the largest store you’ve ever seen.
Not just a big box retailer—but a sprawling, multi-level life emporium. Every aisle represents a part of your journey: relationships, dreams, faith, personal growth, comfort, health, heartache. The lighting is warm in some places, harsh in others. There are no maps. No guides. Just endless choices.
In your hand, you hold a card.
It’s not a Visa or Mastercard.
It’s labeled CHOICES—and it has unlimited credit.
That’s the thing about this store called Life. You can “purchase” just about anything—an experience, a relationship, a belief, a reaction, even a habit. But you always pay for what you choose. Not in dollars, but in time. In energy. In consequences. And the payments? They come due whether you’re ready or not.
You swipe your CHOICES card and move on. Sometimes the outcome is beautiful—a blessing, a door opened, a lesson learned. Other times, it comes back to you in regret, debt, or loss. But once that card is swiped, the transaction is recorded. You can’t un-choose a choice. You can only learn from it.
You wander through the “Living in the Moment” aisle first.
It’s loud, flashy, full of sparkle and impulse. People are grabbing things without looking at price tags. Laughter echoes from behind the shelves. Some shoppers seem energized, others look drained. You recognize this aisle—it’s where you once stayed a little too long, picking up things like approval, attention, overcommitment, or performance-driven perfectionism.
SWIPE.
You bought something that felt good in the moment. But it came with hidden costs—stress, burnout, resentment.
Next, you turn toward “Personal Growth.” The shelves are stocked with counseling, journaling, healing work, boundary-setting, and spiritual maturity. But these items come with price tags you can’t ignore: vulnerability, time, honesty, letting go. Some people pick up the items and put them back. You remember doing that, too. It’s easy to hesitate when you know the cost involves your pride or comfort.
SWIPE.
Eventually, you said yes to the hard work of healing—and it made the next aisle easier to walk.
The “Relationships” aisle is wide and complicated. You’ve shopped here many times: friendships, family, marriage, dating, ministry partners, even estranged connections. There were moments of joy—hand-holding, trust-building, celebration—and also heartbreak, conflict, and distance. Some of the purchases from this aisle still sit in your cart. Others, you’ve grieved and released.
SWIPE.
Love always costs something. But sometimes not loving costs even more.
You meander into the “Spiritual Growth” aisle. It’s quieter here—no blinking lights, no loud music. Just a few shelves stocked with prayer, rest, trust, and wisdom. A handful of women linger here. Their carts aren’t as full, but what’s inside carries weight. These are the women who’ve learned that intimacy with God doesn’t come from rushing—it comes from returning.
You remember times when you stood at the edge of this aisle, too distracted to stay. Too busy. Too wounded. Too uncertain.
But over time, you started swiping here more. And you’ve never regretted a single thing you purchased in this aisle.
Now, your cart is full.
It holds some beautiful treasures and a few things you wish you’d never picked up. There are gifts you gave freely and some you held back out of fear. There are signs of growth, forgiveness, laughter lines, and scars that still ache on rainy days. It’s all in there.
And here’s the thing: you’re still in the store.
You’re still swiping your CHOICES card.
But now you’re asking different questions:
- What truly matters in this season of life?
- What purchases are worth the cost of my time, my energy, my peace?
- What do I want to leave behind in this cart—and what do I want others to remember me for choosing?
Because the deeper truth is this:
Your purchases today shape the legacy you leave tomorrow.
Essential #1: Don’t Just Buy—Discern
In our younger years, we made a lot of decisions quickly.
Sometimes out of survival. Sometimes out of pressure. Sometimes out of plain old naivety.
But now, we’ve earned the right—and the responsibility—to pause. To ask hard questions. To discern instead of defaulting to old patterns.
When facing a decision now, ask yourself:
- Is this choice in alignment with who I am becoming?
- Am I choosing this out of wisdom… or fear?
- Will I look back on this and feel peace—or will I regret not praying first?
This is the gift of age: spiritual discernment ripened through experience. You may not be able to move as fast as you once did, but you can move more wisely—and that’s worth everything.
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” — Proverbs 1:5
Essential #2: Let Go of Old Receipts
Regret has a sneaky way of showing up like an unpaid bill.
But here’s the truth: the past is not a prison. It’s a professor.
Yes, you’ve made some painful purchases. Maybe you stayed in a marriage longer than you should have. Maybe you left one too soon. Maybe you said yes when you should have said no. Or gave up something precious for the sake of someone who didn’t value it.
But God is a Redeemer—not just of souls, but of stories.
He doesn’t just forgive what you got wrong—He teaches you how to walk differently moving forward.
Carrying shame for decisions made 10, 20, or 30 years ago serves no one. Especially not you. There is no spiritual badge for self-punishment.
Tear up the receipt. Keep the lesson.
Essential #3: Curate Your Cart with Intention
Take a moment to reflect: What’s in your cart right now?
Are you holding onto bitterness or resentment? Have you filled your days with obligations that no longer serve your health or peace? Have you neglected the spiritual nourishment your soul is quietly craving?
At this age, curating your cart looks different than it used to.
It’s no longer about chasing experiences. It’s about being a wise steward of your time, relationships, energy, and faith. It’s about:
- Choosing connection over comparison
- Resting without guilt
- Speaking life instead of harboring silent resentment
- Prioritizing what brings peace, not performance
Let this be the season where you edit your cart. Keep what matters. Bless and release what doesn’t.
Essential #4: Don’t Keep Wisdom to Yourself
This part is sacred: your experience is meant to be shared.
You’ve walked through valleys and stood on mountaintops. You’ve prayed through heartbreak. You’ve learned how to grieve with grace. You’ve felt God’s presence in the quietest rooms of your life.
That wisdom? It’s not just for you. It’s for your daughters. Your neighbors. Your church. The young mom in your life who feels like she’s drowning. The woman who just entered widowhood and doesn’t know who she is anymore.
Your life is a testimony.
And your vulnerability is a gift.
You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.
“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” — Proverbs 16:31
Mentor. Teach. Invite. Write. Pray. Sit in silence with someone who needs to know they’re not alone.
You don’t have to have a platform to have an impact.
Essential #5: Make Every Choice with Eternity in Mind
The world will tell you it’s time to wind down. To slow up. To fade quietly into retirement and comfort.
But the God says something very different.
Now is the time to live on purpose.
Now is the time to speak what’s true.
Now is the time to forgive freely, love boldly, and give generously.
Your story isn’t winding down—it’s becoming more refined.
And the choices you make in this season carry eternal weight.
How you spend your time.
How you love people.
How you speak truth.
How you finish well.
You are still very much in the store. And your CHOICES card still works. But the purchases you make now should be guided by one question:
What matters when everything else fades?
Because someday, we will hand this cart over. And on that day, may we do so with confidence that we lived with wisdom, intentionality, and grace.
The Cart Isn’t Closed
No matter what’s in your past cart, you are still here. And that means there’s still purpose, still beauty, still work to be done—and still rest to be enjoyed.
So walk the aisles of this season slowly.
Decide with God.
Choose with care.
Love without fear.
And know that your life is still making ripples in places you can’t yet see.
Whether you’re helping to raise grandbabies, walking through new grief, launching a second act, or just beginning to believe you can start again—your next right decision matters.
God isn’t finished with your story.
So pick up your cart. And keep moving forward.
Because wisdom grows when we decide with eternity in mind.
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Debbie Caudle is a marriage therapist and relationship coach with a passion for helping Christian couples repair what’s broken, rediscover what matters, and rebuild marriages with purpose. Known for her blend of clinical insight, practical strategy, and no-nonsense truth-telling, Debbie works with people who are exhausted by surface-level fixes and ready for real transformation. Debbie offers more than just encouragement—she offers a path forward. One that’s strategic, spiritually grounded, and results-driven. Therapy meets transformation. Coaching meets conviction. Find out more at: DebbieCaudle.com.
DEBBIE!!!! I love this post. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH! I am passing this one on to several people that I know will be blessed by your thoughts.