THE ISSUE OF GROWING OLDER PART 9 OF 10

TEXT- ECCLESIASTES 12:1-8

INTRODUCTION

ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR US TO DEAL WITH IN THIS LIFE IS THE PROCESS OF GROWING OLDER.

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I AM SURE WE HAVE EITHER HEARD SOMEONE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT OR HAVE DONE SO OURSELF.

THE OTHER DAY MY DAD AND I WERE OUT PLAYING GOLF TOGETHER AND WHEN WE CHECKED IN WITH THE STARTER WE WERE ASKED WHAT OUR LAST NAMES WERE. WE TOLD THE MAN BEHIND THE COUNTER THAT WE WERE BOTH JACKSON'S. TO WHICH HE REPLIED, "OH, YOU MUST BE THE JACKSON BROTHERS." MY DAD WHO IS NEARLY SEVENTY YEARS OLD LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, "THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY MUCH FOR YOU."

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GETTING OLD?

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOU WALK WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET USED TO YOUR BIFOCALS.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOUR LITTLE BLACK BOOK CONTAINS ONLY NAMES ENDING IN M.D.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOU DECIDE TO PROCRASTINATE BUT NEVER GET AROUND TO IT.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOU LOOK FORWARD TO A DULL EVENING.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOU SIT IN A ROCKING CHAIR AND CAN'T GET IT GOING.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOUR KNEES BUCKLE AND YOUR BELT WON'T.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN DIALING LONG DISTANCE WEARS YOU OUT.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOU CONSIDER STAYING UP AFTER 9:00 P.M. TO BE BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOUR BACK GOES OUT MORE THAN YOU DO.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLDER WHEN YOU SINK YOUR TEETH INTO A STEAK AND THEY STAY THERE.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN YOUR WORK IS LESS FUN AND YOUR FUN IS MORE WORK.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN YOU DON'T CARE WHERE YOUR WIFE GOES AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO WITH HER.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN YOU GET OUT OF BREATH JUST OPENING THE TELEPHONE DIRECTORY.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE GETTING OLD WHEN THE GRANDKIDS COME HOME AND TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE STUDYING IN HISTORY, AND YOU REMEMBER STUDYING THE SAME SUBJECTS IN CURRENT-EVENTS CLASS.

TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE US TO DISCUSS THREE WAYS TO STAY YOUNG IN SPITE OF GROWING OLDER.