"Irony"

The irony of life it seems,

That finally we’ve learned,

So many things that we should do,

Through sweat and tears we’ve earned,

Some wisdom and some common sense,

Down roads that don’t dead end,

More careful with investments,

How time and money spend.

But dang it all we’ve done got old,

And don’t have the energy,

To do the things we’ve finally learned,

Hoping for that synergy.

Aches and pains and surgery,

And fingers bent and twisted,

Forgetful about simple tasks,

Unless we have them listed.

And, Lord, I’m not complaining,

But I am just plumb tired,

Thankful for each day that comes,

And I am not retired.

Lord, I am not giving up,

I know that I’m not through,

It’s Your power in my weakness,

There’s more for me to do.

And when I am exhausted,

O Lord, please be my strength,

Help me be productive,

To the end of my years’ length.

Age is not a number,

It’s attitude and breath,

And being totally alive,

Right up until one’s death.

Help me to redeem the time,

And take it as Your gift,

Live to point to Jesus Christ,

So others I can lift.

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness,.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NAS)

There are some situations that are irreversible. In such cases God does not change everything. Instead, He supplies the grace to deal with whatever is happening. Perhaps it is age or infirmity or a relational difficulty that has no easy solutions. We always pray for a miracle that delivers us out of the problem, just as Paul prayed over his “thorn.” But God’s answer was sufficient grace. Grace to the end is what we really need, and we can count on it.

Lord, help us receive the grace You give for every challenge, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Shawn Cameron, used by permission. Thanks, Shawn, and God bless you.