Today’s Reflection
There is no use in skirting the truth: If you live long enough, aching bones and slow steps will come. So on this long journey, O God, let my heart be youthful though my body is not. Give me a thriving spirit until the very end.
—Missy Buchanan, Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms (Upper Room Books, 2010)
Today’s Question
How do your prayers for your body and spirit change as you age? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
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.”
—Psalm 92:12-15 (NIV)
Prayer for the Week
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. —adapt. Reinhold Niebuhr, “The Serenity Prayer”
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Author Flora Wuellner reminds us, “God’s love longs to touch and heal our inner wounds. God’s transforming power can do it!” Want to hear more? Join the Prayer, Stress, and Our Inner Wounds eCourse and author interview.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
5 Comments
Always athletic and active throughout my life, I didn’t really consider “growing old”, much less being unable to due the activities which bring me joy. When I began experiencing issues three years ago, I felt very threatened that my active lifestyle would no longer be a reality. Through the weeks of diagnosis and initial treatment, my prayers ultimately landed me in a position where I was able to fully surrender my hopes of, specifically, playing tennis, and remaining active. God has been gracious, as my first treatment worked so fast and so well. Even through switching treatments earlier this year, my times of inactivity were minimal, all things considered. I try not to take my activity level and capability for granted, but even with my illness here recently, I realize how easily I can think that I have a “right” to be able to play tennis and engage in other activities which I enjoy.
O – Father – guard my heart, my desires. May nothing come before You and Your will for my life. Father – I believe I am a content person, I want to be a content person – show me where I am not seeing clearly. Show me Your ways and lead me on a level path.
A wonderful, soft, much needed rain yesterday. Good for my flower beds and yard. More rain this morning, causing us to cancel our early morning doubles match. Will be playing indoors this evening as the season has begun. It is good to be pain free, a blessing.
Good day New Every Morning Family and friends. I find that as my physical self requires more helps and maintenance, my spiritual self, at times, needs strengthening and comfort from God. Usually, God is foremost in my mind, as He should always be. Extreme and frightening physical illness and pain can take the focus off of Him when I need Him the most. Never lasts long, though. I am right back in His caring, encouraging, all-encompassing Love in no time! I have been diagnosed with a herniated disc in the L5 region of the spine, which is the lowest part. So now I am grappling with both ends of the spinal column being in need of physical therapy and possibly surgery on the upper part, in my neck. These are most likely a result of a motorcycle accident that happened when I was in my twenties, followed by eight years in later life, lifting clients and patients. I am optimistic that physical therapy will help as long as my body will support it, as the doctors say. Part of the problem is acquiring pain management to accompany the neck therapy, as they won’t take my insurance. I was able, with the help of my newly delivered walker with a seat, to take a small walk around the circular drive at my patio (my apartment building door is the only one with a ramp!) and only sat down twice with the oxygen. It’s a very small drive, yet I’m encouraged! I used to walk for miles! Lucy Lou is doing well and sends her love to you all! She is the most affectionate cat who ever owned me!
Julie, as you know, my h managed to leave us both penniless, including the fraud he committed concerning my inheritance from my Dad. I consider myself lucky I was left with a good car at least. Although this has stressed me beyond my limits, I have survived. However, I would definitely do things different if I had the chance. So I understand where you’re coming from. As far as the emotional abuse, I am still in therapy. I still wish you could get away from h tomorrow! Praying for you fervently, dear friend!
Robert, It is so good to see you every day again! I am so happy to hear about the hobby we both share, although you are far more talented! I found my Dad’s books on trains and I thought of you immediately! I can spend hours looking through them! Then I’ll have some questions for you! Ha! It seems everyone is experiencing uncomfortable financial problems right now. Slow and steady does the trick and when is doubt, go to the Lord in prayer! I am praying for you, Robert.
Jill, it is good you have been able to overcome so many of the obstacles your health has dealt you with so little loss of function overall. This needs to continue, but you need to make sure you get enough rest to do so. Prayers that you and your Dad remain happy and healthy!
Lou, I am so sorry that the children’s father is being so negligent of them even though they are grown. There will come a time when he will regret this. Hopefully, not too much time will have passed (I know it’s been a long time already) and he will be able to reconnect with his children. I was able to work out some major issues with my father later in life. My Dad was married to my mother for 36 years or so, and then went on to marry three more times! My parents marriage was a loveless one though, so their separation didn’t bother me much. I am praying for you, Lou.
April, one of the biggest things I miss about not being able to take long walks anymore, is watching the birds and other wildlife along the way. I would get in the car and drive to a park. Also enjoyed watching sunrises and sunsets, which is harder surrounded by concrete. I can hear birds singing in the morning and peruse my memories and all is well as I pray. Thank you for your wonderful posts of encouragement! You are in my prayers.
Praying for Andrea, BJ, Connie, Mary, Rick, Ally and David, Rusty and all previous regulars. Prayers for all who visit, up in the BALCONY and beyond. Prayers for our cats and dogs. I sing songs and hymns to God each morning. It’s amazing what it does for your lungs and mood. Although I do live alone, so my singing is far from perfect. God doesn’t mind!
And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love; and the greatest of these is LOVE! Have a blessed day and I send Love to you all!
💌🙏❤🙏❤🙏❤🌅❤🌄❤🐱❤🐈❤🎵❤🎶❤🎹❤🙌💖💞💕😊
Ah yes, the indignities of growing old. The old injuries that return to haunt our joints or the new diseases that rest upon our bodies. The newness of daily medications that are needed to keep these afflictions at bay…for now. Until this medication fails us and the search begins for a new one to take over the vigilant fighting back of the ever encroaching end.
Prayers for jill and Larry, may both continue to enjoy good health and favorite activities.
Prayers for Marcy and lucy Lou. How wonderful to “hear” from you my dear Christian sister. I am so refreshed from your words of faith and your words of understanding are a balm to my heart. For you, as few others can, understand my situation truly. God bless you with pain relief. May God bless Lucy Lou for bringing you comfort and joy.
Prayers for Robert whose sage words have guided my faith journey and helped me grow to understand God as a fahter.
Prayers for April and her wonderful words describing the nature she encounters on her daily walks. How well she relates these back to our Creator, such a poet among us.
Prayers for Ally and David and their continued recoveries. May both recover completely and may Ally quickly find a wonderful new job with excellent hours and flexibility.
Prayers for Andrea, BJ, Lou and Rick, may all be well.
Prayers, thank you and stay healthy dear UR one and all
As a young person, my prayers were often self-centered, or my attempts to sound eloquent and super spiritual. I studied scripture and read books on prayer, discovering that prayer is not about making deals with God to get stuff I want. It is about relationship: God knows our needs before we can verbalize them, but we are God’s children and God wants to hear from us; wants us to talk to Him as child to parent, friend to friend. I pray that God will give me wisdom, order my steps, and direct my actions. I pray that others will see Jesus in me. I pray that with God’s help, I can extend grace. I pray for the needs of others and t hat God will use me to comfort. I pray for healing, for myself and others. As the great Bette Davis said (quote is attributed to her, anyway), getting old is not for sissies. I work all day and when I come home, doing the bare minimum of what needs to be done is exhausting. David is just now getting strong enough to help with chores again, but the 2 things that are most wearing (kitty litter boxes and laundry, because our laundry room is outside the house and down steep steps) he can’t do yet. By the time I take care of these 2 chores, I’m exhausted and end up ordering pizza because I’m too tired to cook. My spirit in some ways, still feels 25. Then I look in the mirror and see the lines and gray hairs. I have never regained the stamina I thought I would after my heart surgery last year. My biggest concern now is that my insurance ends when my job does. I have a cataract which is probably ready to come off. My vision is terrible in that eye. It needs to be taken care of. I’m trying not to be bitter and to trust that God that a way will be made. I’m thankful for what I have.
David continues to progress. We are praying now for more stamina. we plan a visit to my family next week for my birthday and it is a 6 hour trip. I fear it will wipe him out, but he is determined to go, Please continue to pray that he will continue to strengthen.
Jill, we got a decent rain here last night. Everything looked lovely and fresh this morning. Prayers continue that you can keep up your activity level. Prayers continue for Julie, that as she seeks wisdom and God’s will, she will feel strong and confident. Robert, I’m glad you are able to continue your hobby. Sounds like such fun. Praying all of us find things which bring us joy. Lou, I pray that your children’s father will seek to heal his relationship with them and work to make amends and strengthen those bonds. Marcy, I’m so thankful that you have found some answers and I’m praying for better pain management. Prayers also for Andrea, April, Rick, and BJ. Lifting up all who visit here. May they find peace and connection with God. I pray also for peace, justice, and healing for our world. Blessings to all.
As kids, children, we are asked , “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Have yet to be asked what I will do as I get old. Aging is not for sissies, what a truth that is. Thankfully I am doing fairly well, recovered from a heart attack in 2016, my teeth have gotten help, blood pressure under control, and at the moment eyesight with my glasses is good.
Prayers for Jill and Larry, Marcy, Julie and Megan, Lou and her children, Ally and David, Connie, Andrea and Lowell, Betsy, April, Edy and her son, Rusty and K, and all the UR family.
Grateful for Bible study today, more progress on my models, a new Korean drama, summer socks, and food shopping done. Will see the orthodontist in July, dental care is resuming.
Thank you for your prayers, God enables us to provide care for others. Be safe and well.
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