I just celebrated another birthday. Every time I turn around, I have another birthday. I guess I’m going to have to stop turning around.
This year, I turned 73, which is a landmark as far as I’m concerned.
After celebrating my birthday, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage asked, “Do you think you’ll be able to act your age this year?”
I just smiled because I didn’t know what she was saying. How do you act your age when it changes all the time? It’s hard to realize how old I am because my age changes every year. Just when I think I have it all under control, I have another birthday.
I remember my teenage years. It’s easy to act your age when you’re a teenager because you can do whatever you want.
When I turned 16, I got my driver’s license, and I was rather excited to drive.
One evening, I asked my father, “Dad can I borrow your car for tonight?”
With a big smile, he said, “Yes, you can.”
He gave me the car keys, and just as I went out the door to get into the car, he said, “Oh, by the way, there’s no gas in the car, you’ll have to go and get it filled up at the gas station.”
Then, when I was 21, I became a full-fledged adult. I’m not sure what that means, but I had arrived, or so I thought. I was now in charge of my life, and I was so happy about it. Nobody was ever going to tell me what to do.
All through my life, I have been trying to act my age at every level. It’s been hard, but I have been trying as best I can. It seems I’m not a very good actor.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage’s birthday is two days after mine. I arranged it that way on purpose so that I would always remember her birthday.
We were both celebrating our 70th birthday and went out for evening supper. We made our order and then after we finished our order we had a piece of cake brought out.
Looking across the table, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage said, “Well, my dear, how does it feel to be old?”
I reached across the table, grabbed her arm, and began to squeeze it. Looking at her, I said, “It feels rather good.”
Her voice had a very sarcastic tone; she said, “Are you ever going to act your age?”
My problem is that when I turned 73, it was the first time I had done so. I have no idea how I should act at 73. I went to a bookstore the other day to look through the books, trying to find some book that would help me act 73. I found none.
It is very difficult to act my age. Now that I’m 73, I have moments when I want to act like I was 37 or even 25. The problem is that I didn’t have enough practice being 37 or even 25.
In thinking about this I was reminded of what David said. “Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come” (Psalm 71:18).
This article/commentary was written by Dr. James L. Snyder can be reached at e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com
Photo by CottonBro Studio
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