Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past ..." Psalm 90:4
I love the crisp mornings and warm afternoons of the fall season of the year. It is time for football and falling leaves, pumpkin pies, and comfort foods. It is also a signal the year is winding down and will soon be only a memory.
It is the season to prepare the garden and the home for the cold winter months ahead. This is where my problem begins. I am no longer able to accomplish all of these tasks by myself. Gone are the days when I would spend hours working in the garden or as I always thought of just playing in the dirt. Forget about the lawn mower or trimmer as their mere presence mocks me.
Inside my home I am banned from the step ladder although once in a while I get it out to reach something on a high shelf. It is a frightening task as I am always worried I might take a tumble. The floor is just as bad. If I get down on the floor, it is a major chore to get back up to a standing position and usually requires assistance.
I become frustrated at one time simple tasks my body refuses to do any longer. Even my memory isn't as sharp as it once was with names and events seemingly inaccessible. All of this boils down to one simple fact: I am getting older. This shouldn't bother me because all of us are older today than we were yesterday, but it does. What is worse is the fact some people much older than I are able to do twice as much. My own grandmother was climbing the pecan tree when she was in her 80's. She was shaking the limbs to dislodge those last remaining pecans.
Why are some people experiencing health problems while others are still young at 80? I also wonder why some people's bodies are falling apart and their minds remain sharp? Others are mere shells as their minds are unable to tell their bodies how to move and are unable to communicate.
Just as the seasons of the year pass by, so do the seasons of life. The Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 139:14: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made". The Lord even knows every hair on our heads. Does that mean a mistake was made with some of us?
I am reminded of Paul who faced some sort of physical ailment. In 2 Corinthians 12:8, 9 he pleaded three times for its removal. Instead he was reminded, "My grace is sufficient for you." In this life that is passing so quickly it is important to focus on that grace and appreciate the little things which make each passing season so special.
I know fall will pass into winter. I also know that Jesus is returning and none of us are sure of how many more seasons we will experience. Either Jesus will return and take us to be with Him. Either way we will come to a point when time will be like the thousand years mentioned above. Instead we will live an eternity in bodies with no limitations. It doesn't get any better than that.
Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at: