Smiles Are Contagious, Be A Carrier!

C'mon Laugh!

We can only laugh about it, really. That is the dreaded season we love to hate called Aging. And yes, it's a real eye-opener when we figure out we are old enough for our savings account to begin paying off! 

Survival, mid-life or otherwise, will only come with a good measure of laughter! We all know that no one on this planet has yet been able to stop time, banish the wrinkles, and lift enough skin to make us look 23 again. But they keep trying! "If I knew in my 20s what I know now, ______________" (fill in the blank)    

So, the better choice is to have a sense of humor, because it happens to everyone eventually. 

Enjoy a smile with these unexpected blessings about maturity: 
1. We can have "lights out" before our college kids even leave on a date.
2. Karaoke is our favorite music with words.
3. We can eat breakfast for dinner and lunch for breakfast. 
4. Our grand kids are shocked if we know the identity of One Direction.
5. A good party begins at 7pm and ends at 10pm.
6. We no longer think of speed bumps as an obstacle.
7. Our expenses for excessive beauty products are considerably reduced.

See how many more you can add to this fun list! 

Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
It wasn't so long ago that age was honored as one having gained wisdom through life experiences. Of course, we didn't reach each decade without ever knowing anything, regardless of what the Post-Millennial generation aka iGeneration thinks (apparently those are necessary descriptions since we ran out of the alphabet with the X, Y, and Z Generations). You're still smiling, right? 

First there is physical beauty as pushed on us by all the advertising. Then comes inner beauty as we gain more common sense in all things joyful. And, alas, there comes brain beauty or more commonly referred to as wisdom. Someone once said, "It's amazing how wise our parents get as we age!"

An age-old (pardon the pun!) problem
What does God think about all this self-admiration? Quite a lot, matter of fact. One only needs to read the Old Testament to see vanity isn't just a modern problem. It began way, way back in the Garden of Eden and continued right along into the New Testament and has now caught up to this century.

Among God's descriptions of a wise person He uses the words humble and understanding, one who invites counsel and, one who fears (respects) the Lord. He is serious about this aging thing! 

No matter what our age from 20s to 40s to 60s and beyond, we can welcome the fact we belong to Him who IS wisdom. The good news: we can work towards that beautiful goal and help each other along the way, sisters! Heaven waits.

"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God" 1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT.