Let me start by saying that I called myself an “older adult” for lack of a better description. I could have referred to myself as an “old lady”, but that’s not really who I am – at least not most days. I could have said, “senior citizen”, but that only seems appropriate as a government designation or to qualify for discounts. Perhaps “elder” or “grandmother” might have worked? But those titles are too specific for all my musings. So, I chose “older adult”.
As someone who has been around the block quite a few times, I have learned, forgotten, and relearned countless things. I have had many experiences, both good and bad. I have lived through many changes. I have survived many hardships. And I have formed ardent opinions about life. Consequently, I muse.
I muse about many things. I muse on myself, my life, my family and my friends. I muse on society, current events and the condition of the world. But most of all, I muse on the Bible; what God has said to us and all that He has done for us. And often my musing will involve all these things intertwined.
So, I thought I’d share a recent musing with you…
I love music, although I have no musical talent of my own. I so much enjoy the rich melodic tones of Andrea Bocelli’s voice. And songs like “Old Time Rock and Roll” will get me dancing every time. But my favorite artist is Michael McDonald. The other day, when I heard one of his songs, I was reminded of the time that I got to see him perform at the Apollo Theater in New York City. What a wonderful memory! It was the second-best concert that I ever attended, only eclipsed (slightly) by Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden. I went to Michael’s concert with three friends from work who weren’t very familiar with his music. But he sang his heart out and by the end of the show, my three friends were fans too.
As I recalled this experience, I thought, “I love my life.” Not quite sure where that thought came from, but it stirred me into musing. Remembering this concert reminded me of many wonderful experiences I had in New Jersey. And remembering some of those experiences reminded me that I had a really good life in The Garden State.
Overall, my life has been pretty great everywhere I’ve lived. Is it perfect? Ha! Far from it! But I am very grateful for the life I have lived and for all of my experiences because the whole picture is who I am today. And today, I am thankful.
Why am I thankful? Well, first and foremost, I am thankful because of the truth of God’s Word that I know. It is astounding to me that I have had the unbelievable opportunity to have been taught so much of the Bible accurately and rightly divided. Who am I, that I should be so blessed? I certainly didn’t do anything to deserve it. But God, in His infinite mercy and grace, chose me (with all my flaws) to be His child and He allowed me (with all my shortcomings) to be entrusted with the greatness of His Word. God’s Word which explains that our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, came to give us a more than abundant life. That Word which includes exceeding great and precious promises that God, who cannot lie, made unto His children. That Word which tells us about the hope of Christ’s return and the glory that shall be revealed in us. There is no greater privilege than being called by God to be His child. And no greater truth than what the Word of God reveals. I am a daughter of God Almighty with a knowledge of His Word. I have arrived!
I am also thankful because I have had (and still have) so many wonderful people in my life. From my best friend in high school to the new friends I’ve made in recent months, I am blessed by knowing a plethora of unique and talented people who have touched my life in many ways. They have taught me so much; helped me more than they will ever know; and stood with me when I needed them most. Every one of these people has enriched me and left an imprint on my heart. I consider it an honor to know each and every one of them.
And I take great pride in my family. From my brother and sister to my husband to my kids and grandkids, my family is the best family that I could ask for. I’m blessed by the relationship I have with my siblings. They are both great people and the bond we share is very special. Their families are terrific too. I wish we lived closer to each other.
I often think that my husband’s best quality is that he is pleased to dwell with me. Heck, I’m not always pleased to dwell with myself! Yet, he sticks around. My three children have grown into wonderful adults. They are far better people than I, which means that I must have done my job well. And for certain, my grandchildren are undeniably the best grandchildren in the whole universe (enough said).
And the best part of all, is that so many of my friends and family members are also part of the family of God. Being in God’s family makes our bond unbreakable and our future eternal. Our hearts are knit together in the love of God. It just doesn’t get any better than that!
As far as the world goes; like the song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through,”. We cannot embroil ourselves in all the turmoil and unrest that is so prevalent in the world today. That is not to say that we should turn a blind eye to current events, but we cannot get dragged down into the pit of the devil’s schemes. The primary objective of worldly ploys is to distract us and rob us of God’s Word. The best thing we can do for our society is pray. The Bible tells us to pray for those in authority so that we can lead quiet and peaceable lives. (I Timothy 2:2)
So, that concludes my musing. I shared it because I thought it might remind you of things in your life that you are thankful for. And because it blessed me to revisit those thoughts.
My musing is not always positive. But if I find myself wallowing in negative thoughts, I do my best to replace them with positive ones. Because really, what good comes from negative thinking? None! It surely doesn’t help us. We cannot control a lot of things in life, but we can control our own minds. It takes a consistent effort to maintain positive thoughts. And the Bible is clear that we can so renew our minds that God’s Word will have the preeminence in all our thinking.
If you want to muse, why not muse on things that make you happy? Stir up joyful memories. Reminisce about special experiences and pleasant times; be grateful for your friends and family; and most of all, look to God for His incredible goodness in every situation. You can remind yourself, “The future is as bright as the promises of God” or cling to a scripture that speaks to your heart. You can picture yourself being wildly successful even if you are in a negative situation right now. And you can thank God for His deliverance and muse on what your victory will be like.
Our minds are always busy because our thoughts are in perpetual motion. Why not train our minds to think profitable thoughts? We could sit all day and muse about our problems or the evils that are common in the world. We could focus on our lack or our heartaches. There is no profit in thinking those thoughts. That kind of thinking can drive our minds right into depression. And certainly, that is not a profitable place to be!
Why not fill our thoughts with LIGHT? The brightest light is in God’s Word. However, there is also beauty in the world, and luminous relationships that can bless and edify us. Musing on the Truth of God’s Word is always profitable and always uplifting. Being thankful for all we have instead of dwelling on our lack, will open the door to confident thoughts and a positive outlook. That kind of musing will encourage us and calm our hearts. I am reminded of what Jesus Christ said…
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Enjoy the peace of mind that comes from being full of the light of God’s Word. Count your blessings. Seek truth and plant it firmly in your thoughts. And remember, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for.
Note to my readers: Happy musing! Thanks for reading.