Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2007

March 17

The years teach much which the days never knew. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

John 1:16

Age is an issue of mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. 

Mark Twain

Though I am growing old, I maintain that the best part is yet to come – the time when one may see things more dispassionately and know oneself and others more truly, and perhaps be able to do more, and in religion rest centered in a few simple truths.  I do not want to ignore the other side, that one will not be able to see so well or walk so far or read so much.  But there may be more peace within more communion with God, more real light instead of distraction about many things, better relations with others, fewer mistakes.

Benjamin Jowett

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be. 

Robert Browning

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11

As you grow older, more than ever before you need to spend part of each day alone in peace, quiet, and meditation; and in prayer that you may be shown how to continue to live each day with courage, kindness, wisdom, laughter, interest, and understanding.  You should take time to absorb and enjoy the lovely world in which you live and come to know its inhabitants with affectionate amusement.  You would do well to budget your time as follows:  one-half in work, taking care of personal belongings, etc.; one-fourth in social pastimes with others, both young and old; and one-fourth as an interested, pleased observer of life.

William B. Terhune

You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.  Douglas MacArthur

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in his hand

Who saith, “A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half; trust God:

See all, nor be afraid!”

Robert Browning

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that send outs its roots by the stream.  It does not fear; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7 - 8

Silently, invisibly, another day appears. Thank you Lord for the gift of life and the stopovers between youth and growing old. Thank you for family and for friends. Thank you for memories and for dreams. Thank you for courage and for hope. Thank you for the projects that you throw in my lap. Thank you for the yesterdays and the tomorrows. Thank you for working in my life and calling me to work. Thank you for making the impossible, possible. Thank you for taking me down known paths and for leading me into the unknown.  No matter what today is like, I know that tomorrow will be different and that you will make it even better than today. Thank you for coming into my life. Amen.