Another year finished

Since I've gotten old, I notice my husband and I both worry about things that we never would have thought about in our younger days.  

For instance, I looked ahead to see what the weather would bring this week:  in a few days it's going to get really cold here, and stay that way for quite a while.  In my younger years, I just thought of cold weather as something to get through.  I'd put my Carhartts and Muck boots on and milk the cows; after a big breakfast, I might decide to go for a walk so I could see that bright, white beautiful snow.  Now the freezing cold bothers me even before it happens.  The bad thing about that is that I get to suffer twice:  right now, because I'm dreading it, and again when it actually happens.  

As for my husband, these days he doesn't trust banks, and worries about losing "all his money".  Believe me, anybody who knows us would laugh about that.  

We have the usual aches and pains, and lots of doctor visits.  We don't get out much.  One trip to the grocery store and we need to take a nap when we return home. 

As time goes by, I realize more and more how true the Bible is when it talks about old people.  The King James version, for those who aren't familiar with it, isn't always easy to understand, so I've put a more modern version below it.  Either way, the two of us definitely fit this description.

Ecclesiastes 12:3-7

1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Here is a more modern translation:

1Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

4Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

5Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

6Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.