There were certain things I believed in the morning of my life.
- I shouldn’t be too enthusiastic!
- Don’t laugh too much.
- Losing your temper will drive people away from you.
- I was too skinny.
- My hair was too scraggly.
- Jesus loves me.
- Getting good grades were ways to earn love.
- I could be anything I wanted to be.
- Someday, I would do something great.
- I need to be normal, standing out in a crowd is bad.
Most of these things were lies; some were not. It is taking a lifetime to discern which is which.
Things I’m learning as I approach the dusk of my life.
- It’s a good thing to have enthusiasm.
- You are not what you look like on the outside.
- Jesus still loves me.
- There is a time to laugh, and a time to be quiet. Both are needed.
- I am loved just as I am.
- I can still be what I want to be.
- Great things are still ahead; it’s just that my definition of greatness keeps changing.
- It’s possible to have an abundant life.
I believe all these things are truth.
What do you think?
What time is it in your life? Learning, growing and changing can still take place up until the midnight of your life. (We just have no guarantee when the clock will strike that midnight hour.) What truths apply to the stage you are in?
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I just want you to know how highly I value those of you who visit my little piece of the cyberspace to read my words. I believe my calling is to encourage others with words of hope and blessing. Thank you especially to those who respond with comments. You make it worthwhile!
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This post was written in response to the prompt, “morning,” given to the community at Five Minute Friday. In interest of full disclosure, I did write for 5 minutes, and then took more time choosing photos and headings.
I’ll be sharing this post with the communities at Five Minute Friday and Grace & Truth, Inspire Me Monday, Remember Me Monday, InstaEncouragements Link-Up, Tell His Story, Let’s Have Coffee, Recharge Wednesday, #TuneInThursday
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All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using family and stock photos. Please do not copy.
This is so beautiful.
Thank you for the kind word! Glad you dropped in, Sabrina.
Let’s see. I think I must be right about 7:00 pm in my life. My children are grown, my grandchildren are coming fast — but I’ve cleaned up the dinner plates and am sitting in my comfy chair enjoying the busy-ness around me without having to direct it any more. It’s lovely. Still lots to plan and do — but at a slower pace. I know where to expend energy and where not to. I’m comfortable with myself and with my life to the extent that I know now not to judge myself by others, but by God’s birds-eye view . I have work to do — but still time, God willing, to do it. Thank you for the meditation! These are my favorite.
7 p.m. – dusk! (At least in summertime.) It looks like we are at the same place: empty nesters with grandchildren. And you’re right – I love not having to direct the busyness anymore.This is a great time in our lives and I feel perhaps the most fruitful.
Thanks for adding to the conversation!
Love this. So beautifully written.
I am in the winter of my life–way past dusk.
Thank you, Sandra! The beauty part is, no matter what stage we are in, God can still use us. Look at Moses, he was 80 before his real work began!
This post motivates me to compare my beliefs today with what I thought I “knew” in the morning of my life.
I feel I’ve just scratched the surface of the tower of wrong beliefs I had when I was younger.
Thanks for visiting, Michele!
Love this! Indeed we can age with joyful anticipation.
Amen, Jan! In fact, I find as I age, I like myself better than I ever did as a young person.
Beautiful, Jerralea. I am so grateful the Lord is patient with me, still teaching me every day. May we always be learning, growing, and changing. Thank you for this encouragement!
I pray that, too, Joanne. I want to keep learning and growing until the day I get to go Home.
I’m in the noon of my life. Just turned 50. This is a beautiful post Jerralea.
Thank you, Paula. I’m believing there are great things ahead of you!
Thank you &Jim, for sending this to me. I love to read what you write. I’m waiting for your novel!
Thanks, Mary! Hopefully it won’t be too long before a copy heads your way.
I believe God can redeem at the last breath! He is growing us from glory to glory, from lost to found!
I agree, Maryleigh. The thief on the cross is a great illustration of the mercy of God. He mocked Jesus and then as time went on decided Jesus was who He said He was.
This is so beautiful and authentic. I love how you used timeframes of a day, morning and dusk, to describe perspectives we often embrace and how some are true and some are flat out lies about ourselves and who we are.
I particurlay related to your statement that your definition of greatness keeps changing! Yes, mine too!
Thank you so much, Karen! Yes, my perspective on greatness and what I want to achieve change yearly, or so it seems. My one goal in life is to hear Jesus tell me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is the highest accolade I can imagine.