5 ideas for aging gracefully

Bob Russell May 17, 2024

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My good friend Dr. David Faust has written a delightful book titled Not Too Old: Turning Your Later Years into Greater Years. He writes, "I am convinced that Scripture has much to teach us about aging, and older people have untapped wisdom and ministry potential to be unleashed. No matter how old you are, you are not too old to make a difference."

I highly recommend Dr. Faust's book for aging adults. It is humorous, inspirational, and challenging. Dr. Faust is the former President of Cincinnati Christian University and an outstanding preacher of the gospel. His latest book shares some interesting insights, such as chapters like "Facing Your Fears about Aging" and "Staying Fit when Your Body Wants to Quit." All believers nearing retirement age could use his wise counsel to finish strong.

I am not an "expert" on many things, but I feel qualified to comment about such things as retirement and aging because I am 80 years old, and I have been retired for nearly two decades. While I enjoyed each phase of my full-time ministry for 40 years, I can say the last 18 years in retirement have been the best period of my life. I have joked that the best time of your life is when the kids are grown, the bills are paid, and the dog is dead! But all joking aside, I had no idea how enjoyable and significant this last chapter of life would be.

For instance, six months ago, my family gathered in our home for my 80th birthday. My grandchildren contributed heartfelt tributes, such as a special video, and a speech called "Ten Things I Love About Pop." Faith, my grandson Charlie's wife, crafted a scrapbook of recent years, stirring up treasured memories. We relived special moments, including the anxious ones during Charlie's battle with Covid, which underscored life's preciousness.

The album's final page revealed a special announcement—Faith and Charlie were expecting! We all cheered! Then Faith added, "We don't know whether it's a boy or a girl. So, we are going to do a gender reveal tonight! Pop, we want you to hit this special golf ball. It is supposed to explode into blue or pink powder on impact, revealing the result of our gender test."

As the family gathered outside, I started to get a little nervous that I might swing and miss, so I said a quick prayer that I wouldn't whiff it and mess up their big moment. Thankfully, I hit the ball well enough that it exploded into a burst of pink powder, and everyone cheered! It was a fun, unforgettable night!

Older Christians should not spend our last days constantly grumbling and complaining about anything and everything. One teenager said, "My grandpa has OCD." "Your grandpa has obsessive-compulsive disorder?" "No," he responded, "I mean, he is old, cranky, and dangerous!"

That should not be! Older Christians should be the most joyful people on earth because, regardless of what happens in Washington D.C., the Mexican border, Ukraine, Israel, or at the YUM Center, we have a hope kept in heaven for us that will never perish, spoil, or fade. Our spirits should be buoyed by a joy that transcends the turmoil of our times.

The Bible does not tell us to "Rejoice in the Lord until age 65, and then you have permission to be grumpy and cantankerous." It says, "Rejoice in the Lord always…" (Phil. 4:4). Older Christians who exhibit joy are fun to be around and are a positive witness for Christ. Older adults who are "OCD," old, cranky, and dangerous are difficult to be around and are wasting their lives away one day at a time. Worse, they are a poor reflection of Christ.

I believe there are five keys to aging gracefully:

1. Be assured of your salvation in Christ. A cruise isn't enjoyable if you don't anticipate anchoring in a safe harbor.
2. Stay active in service to others. Move from self-indulgence to self-sacrifice, frequently doing something that benefits others.
3. Choose to be joyful every day regardless of circumstances. Happiness is not the result of what happens nearly as much as it is a daily choice.
4. Become increasingly generous with your resources. Jesus said, "It's more blessed to give than to receive." Someone else quipped, "Do your givin' while you're livin', then you're knowin' where it's goin'!"
5. Spend more time thinking about what awaits you in heaven.The Bible says, "Set your affections on things above." We will spend the next 10,000 years there…get excited about what lies ahead. The best is yet to be!

In his bookNot Too Old,Dr. David Faust reminds us that,

"Even the word retire is a bit strange. Ernest Hemingway called it 'the ugliest word in the language.' Taken literally, retirement sounds like 'getting tired all over again!' If you already feel tired, why would you want to 're-tire'?

The poet Richard Armour wrote:

'Retired is being twice tired,
I've thought.
First, tired of working,
then tired of not.'

'Retired' makes me think of a car that needs new tires, or at least the tires need some new tread. This is a helpful analogy because being 're-tired' doesn't mean you stop moving forward; it means getting ready for the next part of your journey. The happiest retirees are those who have 're-tired' by discovering some new tread so they can keep rolling along on their journey with the Lord."

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" (Ps. 90:12).

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Bob Russell became the pastor of Southeast Christian Church at just 22 years old. That small congregation of 120 members became one of the largest churches in America, with 18,000 people attending the four worship services every weekend in 2006 when Bob retired. Now through Bob Russell Ministries, Bob continues to preach at churches; conferences throughout the United States, provide guidance for church leadership, mentor other ministers and author Bible study videos for use in small groups. Learn More »

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