When we idolize youthfulness, we overlook the gift of aging and undervalue our maturity in growing older and closer to God. 

I have done it, you too, likely; I looked in the mirror and wondered…wow is this as good as it will get? 

In a media generation where at every tab, scroll, or billboard, the next best thing is to keep you young, taunt, and smooth from head to toe.  

Like most of us, I’ve tried it all, but at the end of the day, none of the youthful chasings settled my soul, and nothing changed in my heart. I knew it was no longer a battle to the fountain of youth but a heart issue of contentment in aging. 

I overspent and over-fixated on things that promised something nothing from this world could provide. I was looking for youth and a wrinkle-free forehead, but what for? It didn’t make me feel better; I was still discontented, but then I realized it didn’t matter. 

Sure, I want to be healthy, responsible, and take care of myself, but it is no longer for the sake of staying young but to age well and mature with God. He pricked my heart and said that not everyone is gifted the gift of aging; we are all born young, but not all of us die old. 

My age and aging day by day were a gift; they were honorable and maturing in my relationship with Jesus. How did I not see it like this before? What a flipped script to remember.

Because at the end of the day, it never matters how “good” the “tree” looked; it matters what is said to be true about it. 

So, what was true about aging? 

-              It is a gift. 

-              It is not guaranteed.

-              It is an opportunity to realign your heart with Jesus. 

Next time you feel discouraged and only find youthfulness in your children or pictures of yesterday, remember that it is a gift to be here, fighting the trend of staying young and accepting the invitation to age well with Jesus. 

Thank you for being here and reading my words; I hope it will encourage you. If you feel it is, please help spread this blog to others by sharing this post with a friend or on your social media. Tag nicholethompsonwrites.

xoxo

- Nichole