Just Like Mom

How often have you seen young people gaze in amazement at the wedding pictures of older relatives? I had the same thoughts when I was young. You don’t look anything like your picture. You sure have changed. Yet the same fate awaits those young people.

When my mother-in-law was in her early sixties, she began to experience heart problems. She remarked, “Growing old is not for sissies.” No one wants to grow old. Occasionally youths behave foolhardy, thinking they are invincible. Even middle-aged people sporadically engage in life-threatening activities and act as if they will live forever.

Perhaps you think aging is a depressing subject. That is not my intention. I first thought about the reality of aging while sorting through old photographs from my husband’s family. Although the pictures were labeled, I sometimes had difficulty matching young faces with older ones. Curious, I searched for a picture of my mother at my present age because I wanted to compare our looks. Sure enough, we looked alike.

Lately I have been pondering Paul’s words: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22, 23, NIV). Ever since Satan caused havoc by enticing Adam and Eve to disobey God, this world has been groaning under sin’s weight. As a result all creation craves a sin-free world. In addition, believers long to receive their immortal bodies. Nevertheless all of us grow older until we die.

Although I suffered debilitating treatment for breast cancer at the age of fifty-one, I never considered myself to be terminally ill or growing old. It took an ongoing minor health problem in my sixties for me to accept the fact that I am getting older. Everyone responds differently to this worldwide problem of aging. After some people look in the mirror and see wrinkles, they try to hide their age by resorting to expensive cosmetic surgery. But believers have a sure hope that no one can take away from them.

True, our bodies will deteriorate over time. Yet we may enjoy an inner peace and joy, which nobody can snatch from us. We know Jesus died for us, and he is coming back again for us. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship…? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37, NIV). Because believers have this sure hope, we can have a lasting joy in our hearts as we grow older.

When Jesus returns, we shall receive our redeemed bodies. Then we shall live forever with him in a perfect world, free of sin, pain and sorrow. In the new heaven and new earth all creation will rejoice forever. Let us eagerly wait for that day.

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