Sarah and Wynter

Proverbs 20:29 says, “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.” 

I’m going to assume that goes for old women too and I am finding this to be true.  Admittedly, there are days when I miss my younger days…I didn’t ache so much and I wasn’t afraid anything was gonna break.  Today, I cautiously think before I jump. 

But there is indeed a splendor in growing old.  There’s such an accumulation of experiences and a relentless going-forward.  It feels sometimes that life is one of those little flip books.  As I flick the pages rapidly, the images of the people in my life – especially young people – change dramatically.  They grow taller and they exchange going to camp for going to work.  In a seemingly short period of time. 

The wedding

I was touched this past weekend by a virtual wedding in which two such young people took part.  The bride, Sarah, is literally one of my favorite people in the whole world. I have watched her grow into a beautiful young woman, full of grace and kindness. She smiles easily while hiding a deep ocean of thoughts, anxieties, and curiosities.  And wisdom.  I’m pretty sure it was just yesterday that she did grade school and church camp and now she is a college graduate and a wife. 

And, then there is Wynter.  No, he wasn’t the groom but the officiant.  This rough-and-tumble young boy has grown into a bear of a man who loves the Lord with an off-beat, wonderfully approachable style.  And he marries people now. 

I am wondrously amazed and impressed with both of the them and so many more who have shared space with me, and then marched past me on their way to taking their places in the world. 

I agree with Solomon: There is splendor in being a part of that.  How about you?