How lovely to have you drop by my friend, shall we begin our time of reflection together…
My tea today has Ginger root, apple pieces, white & red hibiscus & licorice root. The tasty treat for is an Gf Orange & Poppy seed cake with orange sauce.
The aroma of ginger triggers pleasant memories of a time with my father in childhood.
When I was 5 years old he taught me how to tell the time with a toy clock that had movable hands.
Each night after dinner, he would patiently sit & help me to understand what the numbers & the various position of the hands meant.
I eventually came to understand the concept through Dad’s patient tutelage…
During this time Dad would often enjoy a Gingernut cookie, an old favorite of his, with a cup of tea.
The passage of time
Is a topic that has come into the spotlight recently.
Time is such a strange concept to grasp, don’t you think?
It seems to go slow or speed up depending on what activities we are engaged in.
I remember many years ago when my grandmother turned 80, I asked her how it felt to be that age.
She said that she still felt like the young woman of 25 in spirit but her body just would not co-operate anymore.
Adding how incredibly fast that time had passed! I was a busy young Mum back then, so I didn’t understand this concept.
But now as a grandmother with my eldest granddaughter living here own life, I understand exactly what she was conveying & experiencing.
I can now attest to the same sentiment! Time has gone amazingly fast!
While I have not yet reached octogenarian status, a way to go yet, the unwelcome tenants (introduced in Focus) have caused a rapid increase in how time has affected my body.
My hair once deep strawberry blonde is now white, my skin has lost most of its elasticity.
Energy & resilience
Have massively decreased while muscle, joint pain & stiffness have majorly increased.
To be able to have a verbal telephone conversation is now on my personal most endangered list as shared in Listening…!
But time marches on, it stops for no one, so we need to ask ourselves…
What to do with the time that is left to us?
We can look at our circumstances & spiral downward into a thick blanket of despair, spending precious time focusing on the negative or we can look at them from a positive perspective.
It all depends on our Perspective
As I look in the mirror, I can choose to see a rapidly aging woman who’s life has been turned upside down by nasty tenants & wonder what time is left to her…
Or
I can look at the reflected image before me & choose to see a woman who God has brought triumphantly through many tragedies in life including the deaths of two of her children & late husband.
And whom continues to share His amazing love with others from experience.
A woman who is definitely feeling 25 in spirit but who’s body just won’t co-operate anymore.
And if I look very closely I can see past & present generations reflected back at me.
You see we leave a legacy…
In what we’ve done with the time that was given to us.
It will be either a legacy of blessing or a legacy of sadness for those who come after us.
Have you thought of the legacy you will leave behind my friend?
Thought provoking isn’t it!
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
Or
In Prayer
© 2018 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All Rights Reserved Photo on Pexels.com
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I pray I am leaving a legacy of blessing, Jennifer.
I think that’s a wonderful prayer Lisa 🤗
Jennifer, I so appreciated reading your post this morning. I was in the hospital from morning till late last night with an older loved one, until they were finally admitted into a room. We talked about aging. To read your question spoke to my heart > What will we do with the time we have left? “It will be either a legacy of blessing or a legacy of sadness for those who come after us.” Amen. Thankful the Lord helps us to leave a legacy of blessing.
Thank you Joanne. I’m sorry to hear you are going through a concerning time with your loved one. 🌹
Yes, very thankful that the Lord helps us to leave a legacy of blessing.
Especially for those of our loved ones who aren’t traveling with the Lord when we go.
But God is such a faithful God & will continue to answer our prayers, working in their lives to bring them back unto Himself or for them to find Him. 🙏
Jennifer,
Every morning when I come down the stairs, my knees remind me just how old I am. I love how smells can transport you back to fond memories with parents and loved ones. I hope and pray that the legacy I’m leaving is one that says, “I lived my life to an audience of One.” As for the wrinkles (laugh lines) and gray hair when I look in the mirror? They are stripes earned well. lol
Blessings,
Bev xx
I love that “to an audience of one” the One being the Lord God Almighty! Blessings to you too Bev 😀
I think you must take after your grandmother. You seem like a woman who is 25 in spirit to me! I hope I feel that way too if I get to live to be 80. Here’s to all of us young-spirited grannies, Jennifer!
Thank you Laurie, I sure do feel like that in spirit! 😀
May God help us number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Thanks for this reminder, Jennifer. Many blessings to you!
Thank you Boma! I agree, time goes amazingly fast we really do need His wisdom to use it wisely 😀
I can totally relate to this post! Chronic Pain has hurried me into aging much to my chagrin. THank you for coming by and linking up with the Legacy Link-up.
Chronic pain isn’t very nice…is it Mandy!
But I can attest that through it, I have experienced a new depth in my relationship with the Lord…More then ever before.
It was a pleasure to find your link up 😀
Yes! It has for me too.
Say, I’m planning some faith interviews with chronic pain warriors. Calling it “this light and momentary trouble”. Im desiring it to be an encouragement to others during their particularly hard times. Would you be interested in sharing your faith story?
Hi Mandy,
I feel very honored by your invitation, I’ll just pray on it & get back to you 😀
Bless you,
Jennifer
It’s funny you linked this one up to #TellHisStory because just moments before clicking on your post, I journaled a prayer connected to the legacy I want to leave behind because in another blog a lady had encouraged us to think about that very thing: what do we want to be remembered for.
I asked for my husband and children to see Jesus in me when I am gone. I asked that when I leave for heaven they will know they are safe, secure, loved and known in and with the same love I have shown them because that love is Jesus. And in the same breath I asked God to heal the wounds I have inflicted upon them that they may discern my flesh from the Holy Spirit in me. I asked God to lead me to repentance in word and deed.
I absolutely loved reading your memories connected to scent. I grew up on gingernuts (I am a kiwi 😁) and the thing I remember most from my Grandma are the scents- her musk perfume, the smell of baking in her home and just pressing in for hugs. She was that safe haven of Jesus for me and so was her husband, my Grandad: with his soap-scented kisses or pecks on the cheek as he called them. Going on holiday there was going to see Jesus – His love, warmth and HOME. Now my Mum is in heaven with them and it’s up to me and my sisters and brothers to spread the fragrance of our LORD in our families and communities. May we be found faithful in our LORD Jesus Christ.
What a beautiful prayer, I’m so glad God used this reflection to encourage you in your legacy.
You may enjoy reading Chapter Three of my book, to hear what your grandparents & Mum are experiencing now in glory 😀
Oh Jennifer, I am weeping so much. Thank YOU for sharing that chapter with me. You have no idea how much it moved my heart and comforts me so, so much. In so many ways.
Sending my love & hugs to you in this moment dear friend. ♥
This is a lovely post, Jennifer! Time does seem to fly past. It is good to stay positive and to think about the legacy we will leave.
Thank you Lesley 😀
So often we look at time as the enemy. I’m learning to celebrate the time I have, what was, what’s to come, while looking forward to being closer to Heaven.
The concept of lineal Time is strange when we contemplate it because we can’t go back or forward in time, we only ever have the present precious moment!
Lovely having you drop by Rebecca!
Jennifer, you have such calm in your writing. I’m sitting here drinking chai tea, trying to get warm on this chilly and rainy afternoon. I love your heart for thoughtfully considering our legacy and the days we have left. As I watch my kids leaving the nest, this numbering of days is so much more a part of my thought process. I’m sorry you have to deal with 3 very difficult health issues but inspired by your passion for living within the good things of life.
Hi Crystal,
Lovely to have you drop by, Chai tea is always a warming tea…perfect for a rainy afternoon! Thank you for your kind words & I’m glad you enjoyed our time together. 😀