“I intend to live forever. So far, so good.” ~ Steven Wright
I’m sure all of you who know me will have expected some kind of birthday quote in today’s reflection. I most certainly don’t want to disappoint anyone. Yep, today is my birthday. I have reached the ripe age of Medicare-eligible. Medicare kicked in on October 1st for me this month. It’s just Part A, hospitalization, since I am still actively employed by the Diocese of Gary and fall under their insurance coverage. Hospitalizations, on the other hand, will now fall under Medicare. Let’s just say that I don’t want to test out how that works.
When I saw today’s quote, I immediately thought of my grandmother. She lost her husband early to a massive heart attack. When she found his body behind her in the woods, she actually had a heart attack as well. She survived hers, though, and for years was angry at God for not letting her die. Because she didn’t die when she wanted to, she told me that she had told God that she wasn’t going to die when He wanted her to. She was going to live forever just to get back at Him.
When she was in her upper 90’s, she told me that, maybe, she had made a mistake telling God that. She was sad because all of her friends had predeceased her. She said she regretted telling God that she was never going to die. So she let me know that she told God He could, indeed, take her but not before she turned 100. She figured that she would at least live that long. She made it to 102.
Me? I’m not going to tell God that I want to live forever. I’m looking forward to seeing all the loved ones I lost throughout my life. I just hope that I am allowed entry into heaven! You know what the scripture says, to the one who much has been entrusted, much more will be expected. I hope that I make the grade.
Today, as I celebrate sixty-five years of life, I thank God for the gift of a new day. I am not the most healthy person in the world and that causes me great distress. My eyesight has never been good. Since third grade, I have had to wear glasses to see. My heart was damaged by a virus about twenty-five years ago and the pacemaker/defibrillator keeps it monitored and ticking in the correct order. I feel my heart skipping often. Sometimes, it makes me wonder. My arthritis has necessitated hip replacement surgeries and will necessitate knee and back surgeries in the future.
Physically, I am a mess. But, I am a mess who is alive and I thank God for that gift because others have it much worse off than I do. So today, I pray for those who suffer from age-induced complications as well as those who are depressed because of their age. Age never really bothered me a whole lot. I never fell apart like others I have known because I hit certain age milestones in life. There are others who feel differently, though.
You know what they say, age is all about mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter. So, in the words of Steven Wright, “so far, so good.” Bring on another year.
FAITH ACTION: Celebrate the gift of life that God has granted to you today.