Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.” Ecclesiastes 12:1
People get old and life becomes difficult. As I’ve watched my parents age, there are fewer things they enjoy. Mobility and energy levels become an issue, so outdoor activities, even a gentle walk, is problematic. Difficulties with concentration spoil reading, and even television watching. Some days, there’s not an activity I can suggest that they would enjoy.
However, they enjoy my visits, and keeping in touch with friends and relatives that they’ve known for years is still a source of pleasure. Enjoying life in latter years becomes about enjoying the relationships we’ve established over many years. Relationships have always been more important than activities, but it’s only as we age we fully recognise it. For some, it only becomes blatantly obvious when they’re unable to participate in activities they once enjoyed.
While we’re able, we would do well to spend our time wisely, cultivating relationships and investing ourselves in people rather than material things which won’t always bring us pleasure. Solomon tells us to, “remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” It’s also good advice for those of us who are middle-aged.
Paul writes to young Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).
God wants us to enjoy our life, even our old age, but to do so, we remember our Creator and put our hope in him.
