The Top Ten Reasons Why Old Age is a Gift

So many people worry, complain about and fight getting old. But I think old age is a gift. There are so many blessings that come only in old age, that I've compiled ten reasons why getting old is a blessing from God. Here are the top ten reasons why old age is a gift.

Reason Number Ten - Nobody wants to die young.
When someone dies young, everyone considers it a tragedy. Yet, too many people bemoan every birthday and talk endlessly about not wanting to get old. However, getting old is the only way to avoid dying young.

Reason Number Nine - Gray hair is a crown of blessing.
Proverbs 16:31 - "A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness."(New American Standard). You may wear this gift of old age with pride and gratitude.

Reason Number Eight - A long, happy marriage.
Of course, living a long time does not guarantee a happy marriage, but if you don't live to an old age, you don't have a chance. If you live a long life you have time to get it right. And if you have a happy marriage from the beginning, a long life gives you even more time to enjoy each other.

Reason Number Seven - Old age gives you time to accomplish your ambitions.
When you are young, you are learning what you need to know and developing your hopes. Then, you are raising a family and growing a marriage. But when you are older, you have time to write, draw, paint, study, observe and reflect. You can use a lifetime of experience to do the things you always wanted time to do.

Reason Number Six - Old age is a gift because you can take care of your parents.
Your parents have always taken care of you, and helped with your children. Now they are older and frailer, and you have more time. You can take care of them and show them the tender love they've always shown you.

Reason Number Five - If you live long enough, you can be a little reckless if you want to.
No one is really depending on you, so you can eat ice cream for dinner, go skydiving, stay up too late watching a meteor shower or laze around watching a Peter Sellers Movie Marathon. You can burn your candle at both ends until it meets in the middle and you can go out with a smile on your face and a "whoopee!" in your heart.

Reason Number Four - The older you get, the closer you are to Heaven.
Then you get to live forever, in a perfect body with plenty of energy and no fear or sadness. Once I've enjoyed the gift of old age, sign me up!

Reason Number Three - You don't have to worry so much about all the "nonsense" in the world.
No one expects you to fix it and you've lived long enough to know that everything comes and goes and ebbs and flows. You know that if everything is good, you should enjoy it while you can; if everything is bad, you can just wait a bit and it will change.

Reason Number Two - You have lived long enough to see all the ways God provides and cares for you.
You've tested Him and He's tested you. Your faith is much easier now. Before, when you were younger, you were still hoping your faith wasn't misplaced. Now you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that your Heavenly Father has it all under control and you can rest because it is all in His hands. He'll tell you what to do and when to do it, and you can leave the results up to Him. You're only responsible for trusting and obeying, not the results. You've lived long enough to know that old age is a gift from God.

And the Number One Reason why getting old is a gift - Grandchildren!
(If you don't have them yet, nothing I can say will explain. If you do have them, I need say nothing more).

So now that you know some reasons to enjoy getting old, how about just enjoying your life at each stage, all the while having the peaceful assurance that if you live long enough, you'll be rewarded with old age! Because old age really is a gift.

Source: Personal experience and observation