A smile, a tear ~ And then it is winter.

[Rella]

THIS IS RIGHT ON THE NOSE. .......READ IT SLOWLY... I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE IT, BUT I AM GUESSING IT WAS A SENIOR!!! I FIRST STARTED READING THIS AND WAS READING FAST UNTIL I REACHED THE THIRD SENTENCE. I STOPPED AND STARTED OVER READING SLOWER AND THINKING ABOUT EVERY WORD. THIS IS VERY THOUGHT-PROVOKING. MAKES YOU STOP AND THINK.

AND THEN IT IS WINTER.

You know time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years.

 

It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams. 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 go and where did my youth go?

 

I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like. But, here it is...my friends are retired and getting grey...they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me...but, I see the great change....Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and 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... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so...now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

 

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last...this I know, that when it's over on this earth...it's NOT over. A new adventure will begin!

Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done...things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime.

 

So, if you're not in your winter yet...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!

 

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as 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 today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!

 

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

 

REMEMBER:

"It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.

"LIVE HAPPY IN THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR!

LASTLY, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE SO - ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS.

~Your kids are becoming you.......

~Going out is good.. Coming home is better!

~You forget names.... But it's OK because other people forgot they even knew you!!!

~You realize you're never going to be really good at anything

~The things you used to care to do, you no longer care to do, but you really do care that you don't care to do them anymore.

~You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV blaring than in bed. It's called "pre-sleep".

~You miss the days when everything worked with just an "ON" and "OFF" switch.

~You tend to use more 4 letter words ... "what" "when" "what"?

~Now that you can afford expensive jewelry, it's not safe to wear it anywhere.

~You notice everything they sell in stores is "sleeveless"?!!!

~What used to be freckles are now liver spots.

~Everybody whispers.

~You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet.... 2 of which you will never wear.

~But old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!

 

Stay well, "OLD FRIEND!" Send this on to other "Old Friends!" and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!!

It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.

[Jaime]

Very sobering! Thanks Rella.

[4WD]

I can remember when it seemed like I would never get to 16 when I could get a drivers license and drive legally. It seems as if between then and now is but a blur.

[mommydi]

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I wish my parents would take this advice.
They're spending their last days fighting to live, not living their lives. It's so sad, and exhausting - for them, for me.
I wish for at least a short time, I could get them to feel and express some sort of joy or peacefulness - but no.
All those years in church, singing "How beautiful heaven must be" and "I'll fly away" have long left their lips and now only words of despair, fear, sadness and it's heartbreaking more than I can describe.
 

[Jaime]

We sang this song in church with quite a discernable amout of glee, especially the part about "many will meet their doom, morning or night or noon!"

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1u4Q88OxGvE

[mommydi]

We sang this song in church with quite a discernable amout of glee, especially the part about "many will meet their doom, morning or night or noon!"

 

Some real toe-tapping' finger-snappin' happy peppy melody while singing about others going to hell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Qo0Z_4K8M

[Texas Conservative]

CofC'ers without a capella version of the song? But pushing Baptist versions. Is it because you are now thinking of baptism like Baptists? Sad sad sad. 

I knew of a version by Dailey and Vincent.  Dailey grew up CofC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQO9-fFfEOY

[Jaime]

No, I just like the Oakridge  Bous and thought their joyful rendition and smiling faces were like our smiling faces and joy when we sang about "many aill meet their doom"!  (Likely over baptism error)
 

I'm pulling TC's leg for all those with their chins on the floor in righteous indignation!
 

[4WD]

"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.

LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY!

I wish my parents would take this advice.
They're spending their last days fighting to live, not living their lives. It's so sad, and exhausting - for them, for me.
I wish for at least a short time, I could get them to feel and express some sort of joy or peacefulness - but no.
All those years in church, singing "How beautiful heaven must be" and "I'll fly away" have long left their lips and now only words of despair, fear, sadness and it's heartbreaking more than I can describe.

That is really a sad situation.  When my own mother was on her death bed that last evening, the young preacher was there with us. We all knew, including her, that is was her last hours.  The preacher asked if she was afraid.  She said yes.  He asked, "Would you like us to pray?"  She said yes.  That bothered me a little at the time, but I wasn't sure why.  It really bothers me now and I know why.  My mother was a good "Christian" woman all her life. She was a baptized believer from her early life raised by her own mother, also a baptized believer.  And yet she obviously had that feeling that maybe she was not and had not been good enough to "get to heaven". That was wrong.  That is galatianism and it is wrong. 

I will simply direct you to my favorite theologian for a brief discussion:

https://jackcottrell.com/saved-by-grace-6-grace-vs-galatianism/

It is a discussion that we all should have as we strive to live the "good Christian life". It is something that we all need to know and understand.  Otherwise, there really can be no joy and peace in life as we come closer and closer to the end; and that especially, since we really do not know when that end might come.

[Jaime]

Thanks 4WD

[Rella]

Yes, thank you.... 4WD.

[mommydi]

Thank you so much, 4WD.

[Texas Conservative]

That is really a sad situation.  When my own mother was on her death bed that last evening, the young preacher was there with us. We all knew, including her, that is was her last hours.  The preacher asked if she was afraid.  She said yes.  He asked, "Would you like us to pray?"  She said yes.  That bothered me a little at the time, but I wasn't sure why.  It really bothers me now and I know why.  My mother was a good "Christian" woman all her life. She was a baptized believer from her early life raised by her own mother, also a baptized believer.  And yet she obviously had that feeling that maybe she was not and had not been good enough to "get to heaven". That was wrong.  That is galatianism and it is wrong. 

I will simply direct you to my favorite theologian for a brief discussion:

https://jackcottrell.com/saved-by-grace-6-grace-vs-galatianism/

It is a discussion that we all should have as we strive to live the "good Christian life". It is something that we all need to know and understand.  Otherwise, there really can be no joy and peace in life as we come closer and closer to the end; and that especially, since we really do not know when that end might come.

This is close to what is taught in my fellowship.  I saw more of a sine-wave salvation in my experience with the non-instrumental CofC. 

You don't repent for that F bomb as you are crashing in an auto pileup and die, you go to hell.  Crazy.