Why Stop?
I read something a little while ago (I can’t remember where), and one statement within the context made an impact upon me. The statement was, “As long as you can make an impact, why stop?” I jotted it down on a piece of paper and it has been on my desk since I read it. I’ve looked at it several times and thought about it even more. You see, when you are my age, most people begin to slow down and do less because physically it is harder to accomplish what you want to do.
I had really focused on the last two words, but failed to really think about the first part of that statement – “As long as you can make an impact.” My thoughts turned to those in the Bible whom God used to make an impact upon His people:
- Abraham
- Sarah
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Moses
- Samuel
- David
- And on and on this list could go!
I know you recognize this partial list of people. Read it for yourself in Hebrews 11 and find the common denominator – “By faith…”
Have we allowed the world to shape our thinking on what we are able to do? Just because we have retired from a secular job doesn’t mean that we should just sit down and do nothing. Some people consider the time they have left to be a reward for working so hard all of those years. I’ve watched many people do this very thing and the result is usually a shorter life than they might have had if they had continued to keep active.
Sometimes we use our age as an excuse to be lazy and excuse ourselves from God’s work. I’ve heard excuses like – “I’ve done my part, now it’s up to the younger folks,” or “I’m too old to help with that,” or “They don’t need me to teach those teenage girls.” All of these sound, to me, very much like excuses for discontinuing our work for the Lord. Sometimes, older Christians even slow down or discontinue studying the Bible.
In my experience, I have learned that the more involved I am, the younger I feel. Now, I’m not talking about volunteering to be a chaperone at the teen lock-in, but there are so many things I can still do that are helpful with the Lord’s work. Staying in touch with the younger women is something all older women should do (Titus 2:3-4). It may just be your example as an active older woman who is there to help in any way you can that will teach others the importance of continuing to do what you can for as long as you can.
If God has blessed you with many years in His service – why stop???
Now, I’m off to Lads to Leaders…
“ O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I proclaim your might to another generation,
Your power to all those to come.” (Psalm 71:17-18)
AUTHOR: Donna Faughn
