Life Cycle

photo credit: thepoke.co.uk

Today’s Sunday service was all about the senior citizens in the church so they were given the responsibility of handling every aspect of the service. I must confess, when the service started, I told myself that this would probably be one of those services I would have wished I stayed back because, err…, well, they are old people! Thankfully, it was fun. It was like someone presenting to you something you would ordinarily know in another way. Here comes Grandpa Amos Ayangbemi Okunlola. He loves singing, reading and telling stories. He’s such a great teacher. So according to him, here are the stages of life:

1.       Tender tens: This is the age to be bent, straightened, taught and brought up

2.       Teachable twenties

3.       Tireless thirties: at this age, many are still very much full of strength and so they want to do many things and everything.

4.       Fiery forties: this is the age of struggle. A fool at forty is a fool forever they say. So all that the individual couldn’t achieve in the first three stages, he wants to struggle to meet up with.

5.       Forceful fifty: at this point, you sorta become the history teacher for the younger ones. It is the period to teach and impart the younger ones, telling them your mistakes and wanting them to avoid your pitfalls.

6.       Serious sixty: at this time, your life says to you that it’s time to reflect, recount and think back.

7.       Sacred seventy: at the family meetings or community sittings, your opinion is sought to settle problems and rifts. No one punishes you for anything. You become an authority. If you are able to make it to this point, you begin to prepare to meet your maker. Set things in order.

8.       Aching eighty: obviously, you cannot race as fast as you could when you were ten at this point. Body and joint pains here and there.

9.       Shrinking ninety: you begin to melt. Clothes now sag probably due to a smaller body frame

10.   Horrible/ honourable hundred: you are either the horrible old man abandoned by all to suffer because you have been a nasty and not so friendly a fellow or you are the honourable one whom every one adores and rallies round to support.

The better parts of our lives are spent preparing for old age. Preparing for the unexpected such as widowhood or loneliness is also important. In all, clinging to God as one’s hope throughout life is paramount. Know that He is in charge and that he cares so all will be well.

I really enjoyed the service. Being old aint that dull. It’s awesome. Age gracefully guys!