CHOOSE: TO CELBRATE LONGEVITY

Longevity. Our life span is not something we can choose.
"God has appointed the number of our days. He has determined the length of our lives." (Job 14:5)

In the last few weeks I have been to 3 funerals for folks younger than I. Many tried to make the funerals a celebration of life. I understand that but it also made me realize, as Daddy used to say, "I thank the good Lord for every day He gives me." Well said, Daddy. Celebrate life one day at a time.

Celebrate life. Celebrate the years. Use the longevity you are given as a time of service.
As folks retire they are rewarded honors for years (longevity) of service.
Today we honored a lady on her "almost 101st birthday." I don't think I've ever known anyone who has celebrated a birthday with triple digits. She is a woman blessed with "multiplied days and increased years." (Proverbs 9:11)

Almeda Burns will be one hundred and one years old on Thanksgiving day----so we celebrated early.
We ate and ate some more. Two desserts, no less. We sang. She blew out her "1" candle. Others at Town Village stopped by to greet her. But....her favorite part was being able to share memories with others from the King's Daughters and Sons, a Christian service organization.
Several were the daughters of her friends, "now all gone," as she said.

Eavesdropping on all those stories, I realized that she was worthy of the honor of longevity of service. Years of service, "In HIs Name."

"longevi-TEA"

• For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:2, KJV)
• For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. (Proverbs 9:11, KJV)
• The fear of the LORD prolongeth days:.... (Proverbs 10:27, KJV)
• Thou shalt come to [thy] grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. (Job 5:26, KJV)
• You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. (Job 14:5, NLT)
• So Job died, [being] old and full of days.  (Job 42:17, KJV)
• "Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.(Psalm 39:4, NIV)
• Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16, NIV)
• Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:2-3, KJV)

Pick a verse. Any verse.
Understand that one's days are in the Lord's hands. What one does with those days is a matter of choice. Choices played out in the "dash" on your tombstone. The dates are God's. The dash is yours.

Even toward the end of his 89 years, Daddy said, "I'm grateful for each day the good Lord gives me."

Trusting in Him can make God-ordained time into days of peace. Fearing God and sharing those days with ones of the younger generation can encourage them to choose wisely and live well. 

"Longevi-TEA"* shared is a great cuppa poured out for others.

Owen and his great, great, Aunt Nettie share time together on her 90th birthday!

Thanks to Bonnie K. of Hickory Wythe for the "longevi-TEA" suggestion.