And so, it begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am thrilled to discover that the Bible shares a positive side to aging, \u201cWisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life<\/em>\u201d Job 12:12 CSB<\/p>\n\n\n\n My bones and hair may be thinning, but I am not defeated. There is a positive side to getting older. I can become smarter than ever before if I\u2019m teachable. And desire it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is fabulous news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few of the ways I believe help me to evaluate whether I\u2019m getting smarter, or merely older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I age, I no longer need to impress others with what I know. I used to fear being viewed as unintelligent, and I became a \u201cknow it all\u201d. Now I\u2019m like a sponge with a desire to learn from others. It\u2019s Ok if I don\u2019t know what they know. I\u2019m eager to learn. And if someone has an opposing view to mine, I want to learn why they believe what they believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My girlfriends are more precious than gold. I learned to surround myself with women who encourage and lovingly confront me. The bible describes it as \u201ciron sharpening iron\u201d and that\u2019s why they are a treasure. In the past I made some poor choices on who to let into my circle. I trusted women I shouldn\u2019t have. They didn\u2019t have my back. Some were even jealous. Now I\u2019m more discerning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This sounds weird but stay with me. It doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m skipping through a storm, shouting \u201cPraise the Lord\u201d and pretending the pain doesn\u2019t exist. It means I\u2019ve learned that God can be trusted in the middle of a crisis. I can learn things in a storm that I can\u2019t in any other setting. And I\u2019ve tested Him. God can bring good out of bad\u2014if I let Him. And the results may make me stronger than before. I hate the storm, but I love the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The storm humbles me and makes me more useful for others who are hurting. I don\u2019t give clich\u00e9 answers anymore. I sit with the weeping and can say, \u201clearn on me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maturing doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t make stupid decisions, poor choices, or sin. It does mean that my radar is sharper. My alertness to evil is urgent. My knowledge of God\u2019s Word is greater, and my desire to obey God is intense. When I\u2019m growing, I\u2019m quick to admit when I\u2019m wrong and confess. I ask God to help me avoid this situation in the future, making sacrifices if that\u2019s what\u2019s necessary. The passion to not become ensnared is fierce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This was a challenge. I didn\u2019t realize I was an enabler. I thought I was being nice. I was wrong. I let people treat me poorly because I didn\u2019t know how to say no in a heathy way. And to make it worse, I thought I was being a good person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Loving someone doesn\u2019t mean you ignore or tolerate hurtful, toxic behavior. Ignoring or dismissing toxic, hurtful behavior in your circle, whether that\u2019s family, friend, or church creates more pain. Compassionately addressing the situation is true love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not popular to be a senior citizen, a conservative, or a Christian. I\u2019m all those things. I used to shy away from sharing who I am. No more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reverse is also true. If I discover my comments, and social media posts, are focused on an \u201cus versus them\u201d mentality cloaked in shame that\u2019s an indication I\u2019ve become an arrogant, condescending, \u201cright fighting\u201d curmudgeon. Old lady egotistical thinking has crept into my brain. It\u2019s rooted in pride. And pride is always spelled, S-I-N. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One day I finally realized that there isn\u2019t a person, place or thing in my life that couldn\u2019t be gone is 30 seconds. I have no ability to keep, or control, anything. At a moment\u2019s notice God can choose to remove my husband, family, friends, church, home, health, car, plus anything else I think I possess. At first, I didn\u2019t like these sobering thoughts. Then I admitted that God is in control, not me. A huge burden was lifted. He has given me the privilege to be the caretaker of the people or things to which I\u2019m entrusted. But I don\u2019t own them. He does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My younger life was ruled by fear. It was my constant companion along with his twin sisters: anxiety and worry. This was embedded in childhood and only continued to grow as life became more complicated and thornier. Becoming a Christian at 24 didn\u2019t automatically erase my embedded fears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I knew I had to learn to trust God. And over the years, with each various trial, I opened my clenched hands more and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One day in 2005 the doctors told me they thought I had Multiple Sclerosis. I pulled the covers over my head, curled into the fetal position, and begged God to just take me to heaven right that moment. I cried for two days begging God to help me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then one day, after a nap, I felt better. Lighter. And He answered my prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I still was concerned but the heavy weight of dread and doom was gone. It was replaced by the thoughts, \u201cI don\u2019t know what tomorrow holds, Lord. But I trust you. I\u2019m leaving this in your hands. I\u2019m not in control\u2014you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It turned out I don\u2019t have MS, but I didn\u2019t know that at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I had finally learned how to let go of the need to be in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, not the tango. My early years were spent in an exhausting effort of performance for everyone\u2014including God. I kept trying to earn love, approval, significance, and acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I jumped off the performance treadmill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If people don\u2019t like that I\u2019m a loud Sanguine\u2014oh well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If people don\u2019t like my Yankee accent\u2014oh well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If people think as a woman, I shouldn\u2019t be in the pulpit\u2014oh well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If people think I talk about my faith too much\u2014oh well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If people don\u2019t like my loud, crazy purses\u2014oh well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don\u2019t let others determine my worth anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I finally gave in and allowed God to lavish me with the love I\u2019ve longed for. I let Him whisper, \u201cLaura, you are beautiful and precious to me just as you are. I delight in you. I am crazy in love with you and there is not one thing you can do about it. I will never leave you. Never.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t explain why he loves me, but I\u2019ve learned that it\u2019s true. Because I stopped laboring, wrestling, and attempting to achieve. I replaced it with resting securely in the arms of my Creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those new wrinkles don\u2019t matter as much as they once did. However, I\u2019m not as quick to forgive myself about my increasing pant size, but I\u2019m working on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now\u2014if I could only find where I put my cell phone? A-L-E-X-A, find my phone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Laura Petherbridge is an international author and a professional speaker on subjects related to: singles, divorce recovery, divorce prevention, stepfamilies, relationships and spiritual growth. She has written\u00a0four books<\/a>\u00a0addressing marriage\/divorce and stepfamily life. Free articles, newsletters, resources and additional information may be found on her website www.LauraPetherbridge.com or\u00a0www.TheSmartStepmom.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I just turned 68. Lately I\u2019ve noticed little things that reveal I\u2019m getting older. Some of them include: And so, it begins. I am thrilled to discover that the Bible shares a positive side to aging, \u201cWisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life\u201d Job 12:12 CSB My bones and hair…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":1240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,9,6,11,8,15,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beauty-fashion","category-girlfriends","category-health-wellness","category-personalities","category-relationships","category-soul","category-transitions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1241,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1239\/revisions\/1241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Smarter Means Teachable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Friends are More Valuable than Money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Trials and Temptations are Viewed as an Opportunity for Growth<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There is an Increased Awareness of Areas of Weakness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve Learned to Set Healthy Boundaries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m Not Embarrassed, or Arrogant, About Being Different<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I Recognize God Owns it ALL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m Conquering Fear.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I’ve Learned to Dance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n![\"woman](\"http:\/\/livingyourbestlife60plus.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/laura-petherbridge.webp\")