Amazing Goldies! This is for YOU!
The 50th anniversary is famously known as the golden wedding anniversary, with gold being both the milestone’s associated color and the gift material. So, it’s safe to say that even when we are turning “50” and beyond, we are “golden”!
Fifty is just a number and I am saying: “It’s time to shake off restricting mindsets.” I was inspired when I read these words for 55-plusers! DON’T STOP READING IF YOU’RE UNDER 55 – you’ll be there soon, or you may be acting like you are there already.
Seniors will arise and shake off restricting mindsets. God is moving powerfully among seniors. A company of those who are 55-plus years of age will shatter the lies concerning their generation.
Think about it. President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump, the oldest men ever to become president of the USA, are a sign and first fruits of this great and influential company of seniors.
Many of those who are 55-plus will arise and step into fulfillment of destiny and will boldly march forward to the front lines of kingdom service. They will be effective and powerful in kingdom advancement.
Many will pursue new interests and education. A new breed of seniors is arising who will defy the expectation of deterioration of body and soul in their later years. They will testify that their later years are truly more glorious and fruitful than the former.
Those words affirmed what I have been sensing as I seek God and determine to get recharged with fuel that takes me the distance to my Finish Line. That old “retirement” mentality that says “Now life is about riding my rocking chair to heaven” is not for me.
It’s more like “Fasten your seatbelt for the ride of your life!” I realize that “safe” mentality keeps us from some of the greatest adventures for us and others if we could help them out of their complacency and the one-foot-in-the-grave and the-other-foot-on-the-banana-peel mentality.
Mark Batterson, one of my favorite authors, asks “When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? That faithfulness is holding the fort? That playing it safe is safe? That radical is anything but normal? Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.”
The point is…..if we’re not dead…..we’re not done. Sure, go ahead and travel and do things you’ve dreamed you’d do when you reached your golden years if that’s your bent. Go ahead and enjoy times with friends playing dominoes, bingo, and cards, going to events and social activities. Go ahead and spend as much time as you can with the children and grandchildren. All those are memories in the making. I’ll be doing that, too!
But here’s my utmost desire – to help change the way the world looks at the age we are by smashing stereotypes. I aim to deliver hope, inspiration, and possibility to our world. I’m not going to play it safe or hold the fort. I’m going to be a radical, fully devoted follower of Christ…..living all the life I can.
These are the words I hope my family and friends say about me when I get to leave this temporary home and go to my forever home in heaven:
“Not, how did she die, but how did she live?
Not, what did she gain, but what did she give?”