It’s that time again to have some questions answered from a man’s point of view. The topic for the Men’s Meme at Families Again is a little depressing. I’m not sure if age phases him though, so we will see what he has to say. His comments will be in BLUE:
I do like relish, but not in this context. I’m surprised to hear myself say what I have been thinking more often than not – I’m tired. I don’t have the energy for fear nor the promise of loss of good fortune and good health upon which fear is based.How do you feel about getting old? Do you relish it? Hate the thought? Are you somewhat scared? Give me your thoughts.
If I had the energy, I’d be depressed. I had more than my share of near death experiences early in life and so, I have more gratitude perhaps than most people. I have not always been good, but I’ve had a good life and so I’m good to go.
which the days never knew.
I’m just going to be blunt because I’m pretty good at it. I hate getting older. I can’t believe I’m already this age! Looking in the mirror is not fun any more and since I have to do it every day to put on my make-up and dry my hair, there seems to be no escape.
The other day I was in a conversation about breasts, but we said boobs. We were expressing how so many women have pain because their breasts are too large. I’ll take their boobs! I also remember when I was nursing Alyssa for eighteen months. Nursing women have beautiful milk-filled breasts and I was no exception to the rule. In this conversation I said, “I loved my boobs! I looked at them all the time because I knew that once I stopped nursing, they would disappear.” I was not perverted either. I just appreciate a nice looking pair of breasts like the next person. Not only can’t I believe it was so long ago, but I remember my body was so young and beautiful seventeen years ago. I am not conceited, but my body then compared to now is a drastic difference and I miss it.
Appearance isn’t the only thing that I have watched change. My health is also dramatically different. My body decided to break down a little here and there making the pharmacist one of my best friends. I can’t just jump a hedge in the lawn or leap across a huge puddle either. I often try, but the results are usually not pretty if I succeed with “if” being the main word. I wake up with aches, pains and creaks that did not used to be in my body. Ugh!
I remember my grandmother being the age that I am now. My family is young and everyone, except for me, seemed to have babies very young. The advantage is that I remember everyone without wrinkles or gray hair. They were also filled with energy. My grandfather used to play basketball and horseshoes with me after he mowed a very large yard with a push lawn mower. That was after he had already tended a very large garden. He was young! Now, I am older than he was back then and seem to have far less energy, so that is a double ugh!
I also fear getting older. What is going to happen to me if I get really sick? My mother will not live forever no matter how much I wish it to be true, so she isn’t going to be around to take care of me like she did when I was a young child. I can’t count on my husband because not only is he much older than me, but he won’t even pick up his own mess now so I can’t imagine him taking care of a woman with deteriorated vitality. I don’t want to be a burden to my daughter, although she will probably be really mad at me for even saying that because she already told me not to worry. But what if she gets married to someone that hates me? Yeah, I’m pretty much a basket case.
Finally, the thought of dying is terrible. My grandparents, all of them, died very slowly. It was horrible! I remember praying every night for God to please let my grandmother leave this mortal existence because she was suffering so terribly. I do not want to suffer! I do not want pain! I do not want to leave my daughter!
I guess I have sufficiently depressed myself and you, but that wasn’t my intention. The more I thought about this question today, the more it bothered me. I know that coming to this earth, gaining a body, growing and making choices, and eventually dying is the plan. I just don’t like it. I can’t change it, but I don’t like how it has to decline and then end. The only thing that actually keeps me from being completely depressed to the depths of misery when I think about dying is my testimony of Christ. I know that some day we will all be joined with our families, but the time and trials between then and now is often overwhelming.
the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss
is what dies inside us
while we live.”
To cheer myself up after writing this and for you after reading this, go here and here and here, but don’t forget to tell me how you feel about dying too.
I suppose I'm ancient where my daughter is concerned. Like you, I had her later in life (but wiser though too). I remember when I was your age. :)LOL! The thing that bothers me the most and because you asked is leaving my daughter. But I know that the same Spirit that walked Jesus to the Cross, is the same Spirit that will walk me through this life no matter how old or young I am. He will get me through. What's the title to that book by Stormie Omaritan (sp?) Just Enough Light for the Step I'm ON. 🙂
Yes, I can tell you know exactly how I feel. Thank you!
My only fear of dying is for my husband dealing with all the hassles of my death that it would cause for him.
Stopping by from SITS.
This is your mom. Seeing that grave stone gave my tummy a knot inside. Bad girl! I am 66, and I sometimes wish it was all over with but when it gets down to it, I think much. I would leave my girls, and husband. I would not be around to take care of you. I know this is going to happen and it grievs me to even think of it. No one is ever really ready to leave unless it is to escape from the horrible misery of dying slowly. Yes your grand parents both died a slow and painful death, took dad three years and mom two. I learned alot from that as I know you did. I still feel like I am in a dase. I have to remember why I am here. I am here to prove myself to a loving Heavenly father that I truly love him enough to endure and learn what I need to know to return to him. The sacrifice the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ made would be not worth much if I did not try every day. So,daughter cheer up and know all these things will give you experience and be for your good. Seek to be closer to the Lord Jesus and life will make sense. Help Alyssa to get to that point also. The Lord only loaned her to you for a moment. What you teach her will sustain her when you are gone. When life gets hard for her give her the assurance that she can fall on her knees and mircles will happen. Look at your moms life and remember that day when I was so ill and a light filled the room and healed me while on my knees. You saw the light and saw I was well in a spit second. Give her that faith, that is your most important role in this life. When you leave this life you will leave her in the Lords hands. I love you my daughter, and it hurts me when you are down. Get up today and feel happy, for you had a good mom who loves you with all that makes her who she is. Say a prayer for me, I have to go prove myself at that job interview to day. It is hands on. Them help me get my art online so I do not have to leave home to go out to work.
your mom
I and my husabnd are petrified of death! More so of the way it will happen, and we are both constantly moaning about getting old!!!
I can't think about death; it creeps me out, almost as much as looking the mirror, which I avoid by not putting on my glasses until I leave the bathroom. Details pretty much disappear when I don't have my glasses on so I'm able to miss the detail that I'm a little bit gross to look at, especially sans clothing!
I do think I will be joined with my family. I miss them so. It has been so long. I might have time to meet someone, I don't know, if not I beleive I will be with my family. Oops, I got old!