This week we had the privilege of spending one on one time with our oldest grandblessing. She is a smart, funny, sweet and oh so adorable nine-year-old.
After a fun overnight, we headed to a little city, about thirty minutes west of us to an iconic restaurant for breakfast. It was our first visit and we hoped it would live up to all the hype. Grandblessing #1 ordered her favorite biscuits and gravy and declared they were very good! That is high praise from a little girl whose dad makes the best biscuits and gravy I have ever eaten. The day was off to a great beginning.
Sweet husband and I enjoy visiting antique stores and we were pretty confident Grandblessing #1 would love it as well. So, we headed down the street to a large antique mall. She was enthralled.
Her favorite item seemed to be the old jewelry. We looked at all the necklaces, rings, bracelets and brooches. She was fascinated by two rings, so of course, we bought them for her.
When we reached the other side of the mall, we discovered many old toys. I found myself telling her that I had that when I was a little girl or that her mom and her aunt had that toy.
Suddenly, she spotted an old manual typewriter. She gasped and said, “Nana, look! I have always wanted one of these!” She was touching the keys and looking closely at every part of that old, outdated appliance. I began telling her how you would put the paper in, roll it up and type. If you made a mistake, the only way to correct it was to roll the paper up and erase or start over. It was so much more difficult than using a computer to type.
Walking away it hit me —- I just explained to my grand-blessing how I used an antique to type papers in college, before computers were even invented. Yikes! I am officially old.
This morning, I have been thinking about that experience and, even though I do not feel like an antique, I look in the mirror and that realization hits me hard. I am an antique, but not sad about it. I am grateful for every moment and look at each day as a gift from God. Plus, if I were not an antique, I would not have the wonderful privilege of being Nana to three, so far, adorable grandblessings! Proverbs 17:6 tells us: “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged...”
Truth!! I love my grandblessings and being their Nana is a great adventure.
Getting old is a privilege denied to many, so you will never hear me complain about my age.
>Moses was 80 years old, and his brother Aaron was 83 years old when they were working to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
>Noah was 600 years old when he built the ark.
>Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at age 65.
>Grandma Moses started painting at age 76.
>Peter Roget invented the Thesaurus at age 73.
>Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence at age 70.
>Taiichi Igarashi climbed Mt. Fuji, at age 100. He contributed his success to eating raw eggs and the encouragement of those around him.
I love how Betty White put it, “The older you get, the better you get—unless you are a banana.”
The Bible has a lot to say about growing old:
>Isaiah 46:4 - “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you…”
>Psalm 92:13 - “…they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
C. S. Lewis said, “You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.” My dream is to live a fruitful and productive life until I take my last breath.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Gladys Burrill was the oldest female to complete a marathon. At age 92, Gladys finished her fifth Honolulu Marathon in seven years. It took her 9 hours, 53 minutes and 16 seconds. Yay, Gladys!
I wonder if I could do that? Maybe I will start with a walk today and work towards beating Gladys’ record.
What would your new goal or dream be? I would love to hear about it.