I helped my daughter and family move across town (Marshalltown) on Saturday. I went there with another daughter and HS-aged granddaughter. Another daughter was also there. They also had help family from his family and their church and work friends. What a great group of people willing to work so hard for others.

The help I offer now is not the same as it used to be. No carrying boxes. No holding one end of tables or chairs as we move them from truck to house. My daughters and granddaughters were the strong women. I washed out the kitchen cupboards, unpacked and sorted kitchen items, and filled up the cupboards following Carrie’s preferences and instructions. And others joined me in this project. Nothing very physically demanding, yet I was asked to go sit down a few times. It was a suggestion firmly offered. And I accepted with relief and frustration at the same time. It’s not in my nature to be sitting idly while others work. That is putting it mildly—but it is what it is, and I can pout or I can change my attitude.

So I offered to refold the packing paper and break down the boxes for re-use while I sat in a chair. Resting, but still involved. No thumb twiddling here.

And it bothered no one except me that I was sitting down. In fact, it made others at ease. They didn’t make me feel as though I wasn’t contributing when I took a break while they continued working. Aftr all, I wasn’t there for my muscle. I have a different role to play now: leadership in attitude, in faith, in loving others, in noticing others, in communicating on words on paper, and words from my mouth.

I was the only one who wished I could do more. There have been many times during my life when I had to sit back, take it easy, take time to heal, and learn to not push my body further than it was healthy to do so. Now I’m in a different age category, and a resurgence to physical strength that I’ve enjoyed in the path is not a reality. I don’t intend to sit around watching life go by from my rocking chair just yet, but the time is closer than it’s been before. That is a reality of life in your 70s.

I thank God for every day—more so now than I did when I was younger. Why? Because I’ve lived longer and have a lifetime of seeing how what a good, good God we have. Ebenezer. “Hitherto, God has been good to me.” And every day is a gift from Him.