THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus
Friday, November 15, 2024

Lord, most folks have heard the old saying, “it’s a shame youth is wasted on the young.” Some credit George Benard Shaw or Oscar Wilde for that quote. How many seniors have stated that if they could do life over again, they would do things differently, especially in their youth. I have. Someone said we have enough fountains of youth, what we need are fountains of “Smart!”

When I was younger, I didn’t fully understand what “youth” meant or appreciate its fleeting. In my mind, my vigor and exuberance for life would last forever. In my naivety, I believe people above the age of forty to be relics of an ancient civilization. That elderly age existed in another universe. Then I turned forty and met reality. I couldn’t believe last summer when I stepped out of bed, I saw my eighth decade just over the horizon. Perhaps King Solomon had the same epiphany and wrote of the joys of youth.

King Solomon had the correct perspective of youth long before Shaw, Wilde, or Jimmy, existed. Recording his godly wisdom for posterity, the wise sage clearly stated:

“Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do” (Ecclesiastes 11:9 NLT).

Sadly, because of that ugly apple/snake incident in the Garden of Eden, our bodies deteriorate as we age. Our mind and spirit, however, can remain young and sharp. The Apostle Paul knew this truth well when he penned, “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV).

Thank you, Lord, for keeping us young at heart.