This trip has afforded opportunities to look through photo albums. We looked at James's wedding pictures from the last trip. (It still baffles me that Nathaniel and I were in the family photo, having known the family for less than a day.) Older pictures we looked at as well. One observation struck me. Throughout the photos, Priya Auntie* looks more beautiful with each passing year.
While we give too much credence to appearances, sometimes appearances reveal inner truth. That's what was going on here. And it can be summed up in 2 words: aging well.
What does that mean? How do you do it? I'm not here to give a formula. And I know that difficulties in life happen over time to everyone. Here's what I do know. When you wake up before everyone else, spend an hour a day exercising, participate in morning and evening family devotions, morning and evening ministry devotions, morning and evening personal devotions, eat healthy, give of yourself to others, show gratitude, maintain a positive attitude, and do that every day, day after day, month after month, year after year, all not for personal accolades but for the praise of God, well, good things happen. Difficulties don't magically go away. But good things happen. Those good things start small, and start internally. But slowly and surely, the good things start getting bigger and blessing the lives of those around you. And one day you wake up and realize God has given you a more incredible life than you ever imagined it.
Ben - that is so true. Thanks for all your posts!
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