By Dr. Teena Welborn
Some of us have been on a mission field of raising children and taking care of our families, and now we’re entering the most amazing time of our lives: seasoned, mature, midlife … Whatever your preferred title, it’s time to renew or find your hobbies and creativity.
It’s so important that as our children move into their next chapters, we find our inner selves again. Hobbies like painting, biking, local stage performances, dancing, quilting, helping at church, or even going on mission trips are great for us spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
I wonder how God thinks we should live out our midlife and later life. Isaiah 46:4 tells us that even at our age as we’re growing gray hair, He will sustain us. Personally, I feel He has great adventures for us. It’s like His gift to us for serving Him well. We raised our little arrows, then shot them out into His great world to expand His kingdom! See Psalm 127:3-5.
My mom is a great example of staying active and using her time wisely. For example, she volunteers at ERCO (a local charity), sings in the choir, and plans beach trips with other Christian ladies. She is still singing and playing her fiddle any chance she gets, which she learned at age 60!
Mom and I like going to painting and ceramics classes, hiking, and line dancing. These are great activities and a time of bonding, laughing, and conversations without interruptions from the world around us. If you have never tried it or think it doesn’t make a difference, you should grab a friend or a favorite family member and seize the opportunity!
Furthermore, we are always needed at church for all kinds of activities, whether we cook for volunteers who are planting a church somewhere far away, or put crafts together for Sunday school or Vacation Bible School. The tasks are numerous, and we are needed and appreciated.
I think my favorite part about being a part of these small groups is getting to know fellow church members that I normally would not get to know in the big sanctuary. Maybe that’s why our heavenly Father tells us not to forsake the gathering. He knows what we need. Hebrews 10:25 says that God wants us to continue to meet and lift each other up in faith.
In conclusion, think about your interest and where you would like to show wisdom and your own creativity. Keep those brains young!
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. – Psalm 92:12-14.
Dr. Teena Welborn is a retired educator and author of “Raising Whosoevers to Be the Heart of Our Schools.” Dr. Welborn and her husband of 40 years, Cliff, live in Florence, Mississippi, where they raised their three boys. They are members of First Baptist Florence. She can be contacted at tlmwelborn13@gmail.com.