| Psalm 116:15 – “Precious in the sight o the Lord is the death of his godly ones.” |
Russell and I have a concert to do today at our favorite memory care facility. An hour or so of singing and playing guitar straight through. At 25, my voice would have breezed through. Now, at 69, my voice has “matured”. I notice a little fall off sometimes.
My back feels good today, and I am grateful for that. I am starting to appreciate my younger version more and more each day. I go out to mow the grass, and I take lots of breaks. I once did it start to finish without stopping to rest. Not so anymore. I am older. I have to face facts. I am not a spring chicken now for sure.
Kathy Mattea, a popular country music artist, commented on her singing voice at 64. She can’t hit some of the high notes she used to, and it grieved her that her voice was falling off. I feel some of that. Like an old friend who is slowly dying.
I have been playing my current guitar since 1973. That is similar to a marriage in a way. I am a one guitar man. Don’t need any others. She suits me fine. Nice tone. I try to take good care of her. Same goes for my wife. We married back in 1989, and our next milestone is 35 years (in November). There is so much to be said for familiarity. I want very much to be faithful to her.
I traded in a 23 year old Dodge Dakota recently to get a newer model Volkswagen. A friend commented “Now I won’t know when you are in the building. I always looked for your orange truck.” My 26 year old son can’t remember me driving anything else prior. He was 2 when we bought it. Familiarity. It is not a bad thing. It is nice to be known by those I come in contact with.
Sameness has comfort to it. The same house, the same car, the same wife, the same friends. We serve a God who is faithful, even when we are not. Father in heaven, thank You for loving us so much and for giving us things that are so good, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
- Jeff Beall
