Eighty, If We Have The Strength

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn men back to dust,
saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men.”

For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning–

though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.

You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.

The length of our days is seventy years–
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us–
yes, establish the work of our hands.

(Psalm 90, NIV Translation)

****
December 31st, 2007.

Today Grandpa turned eighty.

Comments

2 responses to “Eighty, If We Have The Strength”

  1. Ingrid Kronenberg Avatar
    Ingrid Kronenberg

    I’m totally overwhelmed – nothing is ever exactly the same – but

    I have a sister in Germany, who will be 69 this November. She is bedridden, in diapers and is slowly losing her mind. – her husband died – no children. I am the only living relative and live in the US with very few means.
    The problem is, even with a very good friend,, the help seems to be lacking -she now has bedsores – we have no family

    Question – any idea, how you keep your own sanity – my name is Ingrid

  2. Rundy Avatar
    Rundy

    Ingrid,

    I am so sorry to hear about your sister. It is terrible to be far away from a loved one and not be able to offer any help. Your situation sounds like a very difficult one, and I don’t know what to say. My grandfather is not yet bedridden, but when it reaches that point bedsores will be a big concern of mine as well.

    As far as my own sanity . . . on the most fundamental level, I hang on to my sanity only by God’s grace. To expand on that a little, I think the right perspective on life is key. We need to look at our lives and say, “What is really important?”

    In the end, when all is said and done, what is really important? And is that what we are focusing on?

    So much of what drives many people “out of their sanity” are the unimportant things in life. Keeping our sanity means learning to daily let go of the things that aren’t truly important and clinging fast to the things that are. Otherwise, we are easily overwhelmed.

    I don’t know if that helps you any. You are at a difficult place in your life.

    Take care,

    Rundy

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