Abraham
fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a
hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” Genesis
17:17 (NIV)

Can
you imagine the look on the 100-year-old Abraham’s face when God promised him a
son? Abraham laughed. So did Sarah, who was 90, way past her childbearing
years. However, God kept His promise and Isaac was born to the childless
couple.

In
Genesis 21, we read Sarah’s words. “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah
would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

God
wasn’t through with Abraham or Sarah yet. While we might not be able to fathom
becoming a parent at the ripe old age of 100, God has plans for each one of us,
whatever our age.

Adults
over age 70 have contributed richly in a variety of ways to our society. At age
74, Emmanuel Kant wrote his finest philosophical works. At age 85, Verdi
produced “Ave Maria.” Goethe completed “Faust” when he was 80. Tennyson was
also 80 when he composed “Crossing the Bar.” At age 87, Michelangelo completed
what may have been his greatest work.

While
you might never have heard of him, George Dawson learned to read at age 98.
George had never finished school because he had to quit to help support his
family. He was motivated to learn how to read because, he says, “I got tired of
writing my name with an X.” Four years after learning how to read, the
102-year-old co-authored his autobiography, “Life is Good.”

Life
is good when we realize our best days are ahead of us even as our bodies are
growing frail. Recent conversations with two friends reminded me of this. One
woman, in her mid-80s, lost her husband a year ago. Married for 66 years, he
was the love of her life. While I have known some to give up after the death of
a spouse, Jackie continues to live her life, even traveling by airplane to
visit relatives in another state. She called recently to share some observations
she had made about people whom she had met on her travels. Jackie never meets a
stranger. As she shared her stories, I knew the strangers she had met would not
forget the lessons learned from this wise woman. God is not through with her
yet.

Another
friend, diagnosed with cancer at 83, is an inspiration to others. After 60+
years of spousal abuse, she had just gone through a divorce the previous year.
My friend, however, has shared her story and encouraged younger women who have
also suffered abuse. Even after learning about the cancer, she said, “This past
year has been the best one of my life.”

However,
God isn’t through with her yet. After overcoming cancer, at age 84, she is
still encouraging others who are facing trials.

Did
you know God is not through with you either? Life is always an adventure when
you trust Him.

Respond to the author atcarolaround@yahoo.com
or at her blog,www.carolaround.com
for more inspiration.

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About Carol Round

I have been writing stories, poetry
and essays since I was first able to hold a pencil. Although I have been a freelance
writer for more than 25 years, I turned my passion for writing into a full-time
career after retiring in 2005 from a northeastern Oklahoma public school
system. My passion is using my writing
to inspire others.

I have written articles for national
magazines, like Western Horseman, American Profileand Mature Years. My essays have appeared in
“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,”“Hometown
Heroes”and “Raging Gracefully.”

“A Matter of Faith,” my self-syndicated column,
is currently running in 12 Oklahoma newspapers and two collections of my
columns are also available in book form. Carol’s latest book, “Journaling with
Jesus: How to draw closer to God,” was just released and can be purchased at http://bookstore.westbowpress.com/Products/SKU-000522049/Journaling-with-Jesus.aspx
or at www.journalingwithjesus.com.

I always love hearing from my
readers and I especially welcome hearing about how God has worked or is working
in your life. Readers may contact me at carolaround@yahoo.com or check out
my blog at www.carolaround.com
to purchase copies of my books and read more inspirational thoughts.

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