“Oh! And my birthday is next week!”

“How old will you be, Sarah?” I inquired.

“18,” she replied.

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.Titus 2:3-5Now, just in case you didn’t already know, my church stays perpetually young with an influx of college freshmen each year, causing me to qualify for “older woman” status continuously! Fortunately, I have been blessed with my own “older women” through the years. I thank the Lord for His gift to me in each of them. As I turn 40 today (officially becoming “old”), I want to share them with you….First, all ladies “Fidelity” Classthen same pew, hymnal in handsmiles, warm hugs given, waves to allnext, home in the kitchen to stand
Always roast beef, potatoes, rollsoleo, grape jelly, and iced tealater dominoes, Skip Bo, and coffee – icedHer routines, how they still haunt me
Crippled physically, yet chosen “Most Beautiful”family long lost to accident, fluHeart now wounded, stifled by himyet maturity, strength, real wisdom she knew
Authentically humble, hopeful, at peacenot darkened, embittered by pain”Fidelity” once made me wonderNow I pray for the same~~~~~~~”How do you make macaroni?”was the call that I made to her homeReally just a needy child’s plannot to stay sick home alone
“Why are you home on a school day?” she asked(And I know that my plan is succeeding!)”Why don’t you come and stay at my house?”(Did she know that my heart was pleading?)
Blanket, TV, a thin toast BLTreads-alouds, medicine, company, restwho knows what plans I’d interruptedyet of the two of us said SHE was blessed
Twice an Air Force widow
Four grown children between the twolive-in mother, overnight grandkidsHer sacrifice only she knew
Swimming, mock weddings with her as the groomRepeating, “Jesus is right by your side”I believed her and learned by examplethat His sacrifice made me His bride.~~~~~~~Ed White Middle School Spanish Class6th, 7th, and 8th gradeSigned up for homemaking every yearbut Heaven’s decision was already made
Teaching nouns, verbs, and dialogueswith flash cards, skits, and gamesshe taught me more than languageshe taught me my real name
You are precious, you are lovedYou are the apple of His eyeLove is patient, kind, and selflessHe loves you, so do I
Its own regrets her heart held deeploss, persecution, lonelinessbut faithfully she perseveredrising above all in His loveliness
Every day with JesusEvery day by faithShe walked and still I watchnow understanding more His grace~~~~~~~
UT Student unionI was 20, she was 30bagel eating, Bible studynow she’s 50, and I’m 40
Romans was our book that yearRead it fifty times, the goalmemorize it, hear the gospellet His Word fill up your soul
And that it did, I love it soHer passion, my examplePassion that still stood firmwhen life was too painful to handle
Physical illness, pain aboundingfamily tension, accusationyet hope and joy still overflowingHis Word her constant meditation
But haggard and frumpy from pain and study?No way! You’d be so wrong!Fashion, lipstick, and cute haicutsall part of her signature song!~~~~~~~Steel blue eyes across the tabledeep wrinkles mark her facethey relay again her storyhow well she’s run this race
Well into her eighties nowfirst husband lost to spearthe next one lost to cancerthe memories still bring her tears
Graciously willing to lunch with a strangerthey sit here, she and husband threethey are giants of the faithstill wanting fellowship with me
Mother, writer, missionaryspeaker sought by allher godly choices are a marvelto us who follow the same call
Forgiveness, surrender, disciplinethese hallmarks, her refrainReceive His will with open handsAlways in my heart her example remains