One of our grand old songs says it so well, “Swiftly we are turning life’s daily pages, Swiftly the hours are changing to years.” Time does have a way of moving so swiftly. There are times when I find myself wondering where the years have gone. Sometimes I close my eyes and my heart is overwhelmed with memories of those years long past. When I open my eyes, I realize that I am now old and running in the last lap of the race called life (Heb. 12:1-3)
A long time ago I came across an article titled, “The Winter of Our Lives Life”. I want to share with you just a few of the thoughts from that article: “But here it is…the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise! How did I get here so fast? Where did the years to and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go? I remember well, seeing older people through the years and thinking that these older people were years away from me and that my winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine what it would be like. But here it is…I’ve retired now and getting gray…I move slower and I see in me those older folks I used to see that we never thought we’d be….Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore…some days it’s mandatory because if I don’t on my own free will. I just fall asleep where I sit….But at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I’m not sure how long it will last, this much I know, that when it’s over, it’s over…Yes, I have regrets…There are many things I wish I hadn’t done, things I should have done…It’s all in a lifetime of living and loving. Life goes by swiftly, so do what you can today, because you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not. You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life…so, live for God today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember…” (Author Unknown).
I pray all of us understand that life is a great gift from God and it is our dressing room for eternity. Live it well my friends. Cherish every moment you have on this side of eternity. Enjoy the time you have left with those you love dearly. Tell them you love them, hug them, laugh with them and cry with them. Above all, each day you live, “fear God and keep his commandments” Eccl. 12:13-14, Heb. 5:5-9) and never forget that as the writer of the article stated, you have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life!
Today, there is a beautiful home that tugs at my heartstrings (John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:1-9). Each day I live, I trust the Lord with all my heart (Isa. 12:2-3, Gal. 2:20). I pray the same holds true for you. If not, why not? Yes, I am now old and I know I am in “The Winter of My Life”. Some who now read these words are also in that same season and all in all, God has been good to us! For those who are still in the season of youth, I pray, Lord willing, that one day you will enjoy “The Winter of Your Life.
Charles Hicks