Back in the spring, we met up with some good friends of ours from Houston (A&G). When they asked what time we would meet for supper, I proposed an earlier time and was promptly called “Pawpaw.” Fast forward a few months, and M buys me new shoes because mine were done. She bought me “good and supportive shoes,” in her words. But the first time I wear them around some other friends of ours, I get told they are “Pawpaw shoes.” I guess this is where I am in life now. To be clear, I am a long way from actually being a pawpaw. There’s just something about growing older… 

A couple of ideas. 

(1) In our world, we do everything we can to resist our age. This is a temptation regardless of gender. We dress younger, style our hair to look younger, and make many attempts to postpone the aging process. That, in moderation, is probably good stewardship of our vessel for God’s service. Age happens. It is what it is (cf. 2 Cor 5:1-5). In some ways, even the aging process is a reminder of our limitations. Much is beyond our control, but the use of our time is not; we must use it wisely as a good gift from the perfect gift Giver (Eph 5:15-16; Jas 1:17). 

How do you use it wisely?

(2) As you inevitably age, you have a job: grow. Get wiser, better, and sharper; become more convicted, faithful, diligent, and studious; serve, love, and do better. While Paul’s view in Philippians 3:12-14 is not about aging, it does indirectly address it: Christian, you must live onward and upward. The Christian must use all the time they are given to glorify God, to draw closer to God, and to help draw others to God. 

While no one wants to wear pawpaw shoes, especially a good 15 years before being a pawpaw, may God help us to wear out whatever shoes cover our feet for His purposes on this earth. 

Philippians 3:12-14:

¹² Not that I have already attained,  or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.