Scripture to Memorize
Review entire passage—Proverbs 31:10–31.
Passage to Read
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.
Psalm 90:10
Guided Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for reminding me that my time on earth is limited. It is very likely that I’ll live at least seventy or eighty years. And many people today are living into their nineties and even to one hundred and beyond. Help me to live each day with a healthy awareness of both the potential longevity and brevity of life. I know that I’ll have to deal with my share of trouble and sorrow. That’s unavoidable. But, Holy Spirit, I know you can give me the power to handle those things with grace and gratitude. I know my life will quickly pass and I’ll fly away home. I look forward to that day when I finally see you face-to-face. Meanwhile, help me to make the most of the days I have here on earth. Amen.
My husband’s great-grandmother died last year at 108. I know what you’re thinking if you’ve read this book carefully. Longevity must run in his family. Actually, his two centenarian great-grandparents are on opposite sides of his family tree, so you can’t credit good genes. The primary thing they had in common was a love for Italian food and a glass of red wine each day. So I guess the apostle Paul was right when he instructed Timothy to drink a little wine for his health! What are the secrets to living not only a long life but a long, healthy, happy life?
Too many people end up saying, “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” Incidentally, that’s not just physical. We need to take care of ourselves spiritually, financially, mentally, and even emotionally. We’ve all met the stereotypical demanding old woman who does nothing but gripe about her aches and pains. As we age, we don’t change into a different person. Instead, who we are simply becomes magnified. That’s why it’s so important to become something worth magnifying.
As this book comes to a close, I’d like to tell you a tale of two people coming into the homestretch of life.1 The first lived life the American way: eating whatever tasted good, doing whatever seemed convenient for the moment. Let’s call her Sue. The other lived out many of the principles shared in this book: eating right, exercising, approaching each new day with a sense of adventure. His name is Warren Faidley.
At the age of sixty-seven, Sue struggles just to walk from room to room. Actually, getting out of her chair is her most significant daily challenge. Her energy level is nonexistent. Her typical day starts off with a few cups of coffee (with plenty of cream and sugar) and a donut or two. Around noontime, she has a sandwich of cold cuts, smothered with butter and mayonnaise, and chases it down with some soda or iced tea. Dinner is meat and potatoes, of course. She snacks on cookies and cakes all day long in front of the television set. Her exercise routine consists of clicking the remote control.
Sue has battled diabetes, cancer, and coronary artery disease. She has had blood clots and tumors. She has suffered a heart attack and had quadruple bypass surgery. Truth be told, she has been in and out of the hospital her entire adult life, turning over most of her money to doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. Footing the bills for her unending health problems has driven her to the brink of bankruptcy. The saddest part of this tale is that it’s so typical. The American senior citizen who doesn’t identify with much of Sue’s story is the exception.
Most of Sue’s adult children are overweight and in poor health. Now her grandchildren are repeating the lifestyle pattern of watching television and munching potato chips. They call it “the good life.” It doesn’t seem that good to me.
Once I suggested to Sue that perhaps some dietary modifications might be in order. She chuckled and dipped another fudge-covered Oreo into a glass of whole milk. Then brushing off my comments with a wave of her hand, she said, “Hey, I’m going to enjoy my life.” Enjoy? Maybe I missed something. If that’s enjoying life, let’s all check out right now. Fortunately, I don’t believe Sue. I don’t believe there’s nothing more to this life than indulging our taste buds and resting in our easy chairs.
Warren Faidley is living proof that there’s more—much more.
I met Warren when I vacationed at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. The first thing that impressed me about Warren was his bright, cheery smile and positive attitude toward life. Then I couldn’t help noticing that he was in perfect physical condition. He could put most teenagers—and many professional athletes—to shame. Over breakfast one morning, as Warren ate a plateful of fresh fruit, he told me of his big plans to become a sailor. At the age of sixty-three, after retiring from thirty-four years with the air force, he was in the process of becoming certified as a crew member on sailing cruises. He shared, “My dream is to have my own yacht someday and maybe live on the Sea of Cortez down in Mexico. What I’d really like to do is sail across the Pacific to Australia.”
Warren was not always the picture of vim and vigor. “My wife was a southern belle and cooked wonderful feasts, which of course I ate. Then I sat at a desk in front of a computer all day. It wasn’t a healthy combination. When my wife died in 1991, of Lou Gehrig’s disease, I decided to change my life. I had high blood pressure and cholesterol problems, but I was determined that I wasn’t going to shorten my life if I could help it. It took six months of constant hiking here in the mountains near my home before my doctor said I was in the condition I was at seventeen years old. I was hiking thirty-five miles a week on rigorous terrain and even doing some jogging on the trails.”
Warren also began modifying his rich diet. “I started reading labels and watching my caloric intake. We have to realize, we’re not busy like we used to be on farms. We live a sedentary life and we need to adjust our diet accordingly.”
Warren is convinced that life can and should be a great adventure—if you’re in good enough condition to enjoy it. He certainly is. His retirement lifestyle is anything but retiring.
We can also enjoy long life if we live right. Sally Beare studied various communities known for long, vibrant lives and compiled the results in her book 50 Secrets to the World’s Longest Living People.2 Here are a few of the fifty secrets:
You probably notice that “Have good genes” is nowhere on the list. That’s because study after study indicates that genetics has very little impact on our ability to live a long, healthy, happy life. Instead, lifestyle choices hold the key. And since you make your own choices, you can largely determine your future health.
It’s up to you whether you become a burden or a blessing. Do you want your descendants to rise up and call you blessed or slouch down, mumbling about what a burden you are? Of course there are things beyond your control that you can do nothing about. Nevertheless, you can do everything within your power to lead a long, fruitful life.
I picture the Proverbs 31 woman with a crown of glory on her head. Someday, I want to see a true Proverbs 31 woman looking back at me from the mirror. It won’t happen by accident. It’s up to us to live now what we want to become in our later years.
Affirmation: I enjoy long life.
Practical
Incorporate into your lifestyle as many of the items on the longevity list as you can.