The old bags club

A few days ago, an acquaintance and I laughed about her calling her ageing dog “old bag”. Spontaneously I said, “I’m an old bag too” She, also gray haired, laughed and said, “Let’s make an old bags club!”

So good, I love that! The image of the old bag just sticks with me. Next year I’ll be 60, pretty old. But old is beautiful! An old bag – but a cool bag, with lots of content and a surprise or two inside!

Apart from health issues and a few extra kilos on my hips, which I can live with so far, I’m doing better than ever! Is it life experience or should I call it wisdom? I feel like I’ve finally arrived at the real Angie. I not only accept myself, I actually like myself.

I have also learned:
To say no and take my needs seriously.
To say when I don’t like something or it doesn’t feel good.
To recognize my value. So others don’t stress me out so quickly anymore.
That God can still use me and has plans for me.
That life continues to be exciting and will remain so as long as I remain curious.
That my life has been good and it is still getting better. And when it is over, it will be even better in eternity.
That God shows me more and more his view of people. Thus I can simply like (most) people.
That I get back on my feet quickly even after setbacks and mistakes, because I know that I am still loved and valuable.
that I may bring all problems and difficulties to Jesus and that he always helps me.

All this gets lost from time to time, but I find it again! And it leads to serenity and joy.

How did I get there? First, and this is the most important thing: Trust in your gracious God and in the fact that He has made you wonderful and valuable and is always with you! Hang post-it notes on your mirror to remind you (or wherever you see it often) and keep saying it out loud to yourself! Expose yourself to this thought frequently and soak it in. It’s true!!! Be a friend who keeps saying it out loud to other women too. Focus on people who encourage you and are for you.

Second, bring your burdens and difficulties to Jesus at all times and trust him to come through to you with his answers when you listen to him. Ask him about his truths. This is always encouraging, otherwise it’s not from him.

It took me quite a long time to arrive here with these thoughts. But it’s good to think like this. It really makes life worth living; I’m looking forward to the future! For far too long I thought I had to please everyone and meet their expectations so that they would like me. I put pressure on myself to do that. But that doesn’t work at all, it’s actually nonsense! To be considerate and to love people, yes, that’s what I want. But I succeed much better with joy and out of my own free will than with expectations and pressure.

If we take God’s Word seriously, we will feel secure with Him even as we grow older. He promises to carry us.

Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you. Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you. I made you and will continue to care for you. I’ll support you and save you..
Isaiah 46:4

My old bag is a bit tattered, but it has less and less heavy and negative stuff in it, and more and more light stuff in the form of wisdom, truth and joy.

Take your burdens to Jesus. He will help you get rid of stuff and keep only what is good! See that your bag becomes lighter and that you keep the beautiful and joyful things in it! Let Jesus tell you and show you how valuable you are.

And maybe we should really start a club of old and maybe young bags, where we support each other in becoming lighter. Where we grow older with joy and together with God. Where we tell about the infinite love of God and generously share our wealth of wisdom!