2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
It was the first day of school and the professor
introduced himself and challenged the class to get to know someone they didn't
already know. As one guy stood up and looked around a gentle hand touched his
shoulder. He turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at him
with a smile that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty
seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
He laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of
course you may!" and she gave him a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent
age?" he asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich
husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and
travel."
"No seriously," he asked. Because he was
curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and
now I'm getting one!" she told him.
After class they walked to the student union building and
shared a chocolate milkshake. They became instant friends. Every day for the
next three months they would leave class together and talk non-stop. He was
always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her
wisdom and experience with him.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon
and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled
in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it
up.
At the end of the semester she was invited to speak at the
football banquet and they never forget what she taught us. She was introduced
and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she
dropped her three by five cards on the floor.
Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the
microphone and simply said "I'm sorry. I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for
Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so
let me just tell you what I know."
As they all laughed she cleared her throat and began:
"We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow
old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young,
being happy and achieving success.
"You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've
got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people
walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"
"There is a huge difference between growing older
and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year
and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am
eighty seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will
turn eighty eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or
ability.
The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity
in change." "Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets
for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear
death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing
"The Rose." She challenged each one to study the lyrics and live them
out in their daily lives.
At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had
begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in
her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute
to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all
you can possibly be.
Dear Lord, we pray that we would we be thankful for the abilities
that You give each of us no matter what age we are. We pray that we would take
the time to learn from those you bring into our life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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