Aging with Grace - Chapter 1

"Often when a woman retires or when her children leave home, she feels useless because her purpose was centered on what she was doing rather than what she was becoming. The Calling to glorify God transcends place, time, circumstance and age." page 39

Aging with Grace is written by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt.  The focus is flourishing in an anti-aging culture, when you are in your "afternoon of life" or a Senior Citizen.

I started this Women's Fellowship/Study group because many of my friends or acquaintances and I find we are in this "aging" stage of life, with no guidelines or expectations beyond a few years of retirement.  What's next? we find ourselves wondering.  This book shares the experiences of Senior Women and gives hope through Psalm 92:1, 12-14

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,

    they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

13 

planted in the house of the Lord,

    they will flourish in the courts of our God.

14 

They will still bear fruit in old age,

    they will stay fresh and green,

15 

proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;

 he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.

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Now here's a summary about what we've discussed so far, but I encourage you to read the book to get a deeper understanding of the life experience and relationships that brought Susan and Sharon to share their faith with us in this book.

QUESTION #1: Do you desire to Flourish? what does that mean?  Flourish is to thrive, in a healthy and vigorous way.  

TODAY IS THE DAY TO FLUORISH! Remember that we are not running this race alone, so let's gather together as women in fellowship and learn to Fluorish even when we don't see how to do that!  Let's no longer depend on the world to prepare us for this "Afternoon of Life" because the world cannot give us hope! (Page 17)

WHAT IF:  we are supposed to discover who we really are or have been since the 1st half of our life?
It’s OK to look back at our lives. 

It's OK to look back at my life for the purpose of PRAISING the Lord for what He has done to bring me this far.

What am I going to do with the time I have left?  We will learn this from Women of the Bible and the scriptures.

Write your own Statement of Grace - this is a positive statement of blessings

Your statement of Grace will be different.  Examples are your age; schooling or occupation; where you've lived; if you've been a caregiver for a parent or family member; what your spiritual gift is; what your retirement is like. State whatever your blessings are and remember, that this is not a competition, nor should you feel "less than" if your Statement of Grace is not like anyone else's, OK?

There is always more grace to experience and more grace to know. 

We will Flourish and be Fruitful as long as we live in these earthly bodies!

I hope that you are able to read this book.  There is so much more to Aging With Grace, than I will get into in my weekly blog posts.  I found that writing on the pages of the book was meaningful too, so write in your book, as I expect to and hope you will, return over and over again for Hope and Encouragement.  This book gives a vast amount of scriptural resources, to be reading and seeking a deeper relationship and understand of the Lord our God.   If you do not have the book, then I highly encourage you to go to Revive our Hearts to listen to this program based on this book OR go to the website for Aging with Grace and watch videos and other materials. 

CHAPTER 1 CONTINUED:

*What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God? Keep in mind that our answers will vary; and will show what our relationship is with Christ

What we believe or don't believe about God is part of our daily life. As we face the sorrows of and physical sufferings of aging, Knowing "WHO" God is and "WHO" we are in Christ will comfort and carry us through these times. (pages 31-33)

Here's the point:  we must ask ourselves as we experience our aging troubles, physical and mentally, who is God to us? and who am I with Christ in me?   This is a search only you can reply to and you must ask and answer to move forward in this discussion.   

Now each chapter has points of interest called "Growing in Grace Principle" 

"God reveals himself to us in His Word (the Bible). If we are to Flourish - we declared that we want to flourish didn't we - it will be accomplished by how much time we spend in His Word, getting to know Him."  Did you know that the Word is God's love letter to you?  "An ever-growing knowledge of God produces a more mature God-centered perspective on our identity and purpose, which are the same in every season of life."

So you might recall that in an earlier post, we noted that this Aging with Grace: Fellowship/Study will not be a self help book with a list of ways to survive old age.   

The very first verse of Psalm 92:1 "It is good to give thanks to the Lord".  It is good to thanks to God, but not FOR everything, but IN everything.  That's thanking God IN every situation and relationship. 

And that's not always easy to do is it?  

Why do we do that - give thanks to God in our hurting, in our sorrow, in our frustration, in our lonliness, in our uncertainty? 

Because God is good! and His steadfast Love endures forever!

GROWING IN GRACE PRINCIPLE

The authors write that one way to learn to give thanks and have an attitude of thankfulness is to worship weekly and unite with others to thank Him for His amazing grace. 

If you only remember ONE WORD from this book, (I hope there will be more than one) let it be this:

HESED = STEADFAST LOVE in Hebrew, sometimes translated as lovingkindness

Psalm 92:2 It is good to begin and end each day by declaring the Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness.

HESED appears 250 times in the Old Testament and dominantly with reference to God himself. 

HESED means: God's deep goodness expressed in his covenant (promise) commitment, his absolute loyalty, his obligating of himself to bring to fruition the blessings that He has promised, whatever it may cost Him personally to do that. (Sinclair Ferguson)

What did it cost God? It cost his Son's life.  

Our sin can never out-distance God's Steadfast love and faithfulness. 

Let's paraphrase that.  We can never do anything bad enough that will be worse than the covenant Jesus made with us with His absolute loyalty to make sure that all the blessings He has promised to give us, regardless of the fact that He gave His only Son up, just so He could personally show me His grace upon grace. Read that again to get the deep commitment that God has for you - God's HESED, His steadfast love and faithfulness.   

OK, now this is explaining God's deep and lasting love for each of us sinners though we may be, but how do we continue to be faithful to Him?

The answer is this: to be faithful to seek the Lord, to stay in His word, to join in fellowship with other believers, to proclaim His love together - worship.

Just like the blade of grass, it needs everything the Lord provides to live, we must stay, remain, continue, submit and yes, endure with the Lord God.

GROWING IN GRACE PRINCIPLE

"Our bodies change as we age, so do our spirits. We MUST Guard against our hearts becoming brittle and bitter.  How?  by praying for Grace to Abide in Christ, and to bear fruit of HESED - Steadfast love and Faithfulness to others, even when it is costly to do so. 

So then we look for gladness in people, things, circumstances.  As we think of the Lord's goodness to us, we become good, and we become glad. 

Will we be stiff-necked or shining old ladies? 

Did you know that grey hair is considered a crown of glory? now reading that, I sat a little taller, especially when I read it.  But don't be mistaken about the "color" of hair for it refers to the reflected glory of the one who lives face to face with Jesus, seeking to know Him better each day.

So the Crown of Glory, the Gospel Glow is our grey hair.  (Page 37, 38)

                                     (Art Journaling by Susan Boback)

"Often when a woman retires or when her children leave home, she feels useless because her purpose was centered on what she was doing rather than what she was becoming. The Calling to glorify God transcends place, time, circumstance and age."

GROWING IN GRACE PRINCIPLE
There are many things we can long do as we age, but age does not keep us from fulfilling our purpose to glorify and enjoy God.  An ever-growing knowledge of God's undeserved love - his Grace - changes our motivation.   

Its time to realize God's HESED for us and stop living for ourselves and begin to live for His glory as we Age with Grace! (page 39)

NEXT WEEK: For Next week read LUKE 2:25-38  The Story of Anna - Living Covenantally

Thanks for stopping by! Be Blessed! sb

AGING WITH GRACE INTRODUCTION - Women's Fellowship & Study

Today, we are gathering for fellowship & study.  We are women of the "Afternoon of Life", that is we are women who are between 56 and 83+ years old. We are retired from our lifetime of work, but we have more to live for, more to give, and more to share, even though our society does not honor women of our age.  

Whether you are with us in person, or following online, know that we're glad you're here. If you have a comment or question for me, please leave it at the end of this post or if you want to share a more in-depth experience or ask questions, you can contact me at sboback54@gmail.com.

It is my hope and prayer that you find encouragement through the website, the posts of discussion and our Lord.  There are enough places around the Lord's table, so pull up a chair. 

The book is Aging with Grace which we will discuss and add our own life experiences.  There are many resources available with this study, which we will draw from and use appropriately for our group.  

Take a minute and watch this introduction video from the authors, and then follow along here with my own comments and points of interest. 

The goal of Women's Fellowship & Study is to provide a safe comfortable space for women to gather where we can share our lives, our joys and concerns, as well as learn how to flourish, even though we are aging physically and mentally. (Page 71 of AWG).  

You may want to keep a journal for your thoughts and answers to the questions.   There is not a test.  Only you can answer the questions as we each look at our life. You will be encouraged to write your own story - no, not a book - but your story will help you "to age with grace, to flourish in old age."

Here are questions to ask yourself, but keep in mind its OK if you don't feel like sharing the answers with everyone in the group.  Maybe its even difficult to answer the questions to yourself.  If you decide to read your story (based on these questions) aloud, keep in mind that your answers should be short sentences, so that you're not talking more that 5 minutes.  

What was life like for me as a young girl?

Tell about your family

What is something you have learned about the Lord that you wish you had known at a young age?

What is your greatest joy?

What is your greatest fear or concern in this season of life?

What is a scripture that is special to you?

Do you have a favorite hymn?

The answers may change as you grow in your faith and learn about how to flourish at an older age. There's no right or wrong - this is about you and your life.   

There are many scriptures shared that point us to flourishing.   Psalm 103:15 "life is like a mist or a blade of grass"   or Isaiah 40:8 "grass withers, flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever."

If you think of a blade of grass, it is one among many, many, many.  We don't usually see it by itself do  we? unless its growing in the crack of the sidewalk.  While it is a living thing, did it create itself? How does it survive? Even the air, the sun, water, the nutrients in the soil which a blade of grass needs to survive, are created by God. The grass withers, but God and His Word will stand forever.  

QUESTION #1: Do you desire to Fluorish? what does that mean?  Fluorish is to thrive, in a healthy and vigorous way.  

TODAY IS THE DAY TO FLUORISH! Remember that we are not running this race alone, so let's gather together as women in fellowship and learn to Fluorish even when we don't see how to do that!  Let's no longer depend on the world to prepare us for this "Afternoon of Life" because the world cannot give us hope! (Page 17)

QUESTION #2: Have the older women that have been an influence in your life been "life-givers" or "life-takers"?

MY PERSONAL REFLECTION: My maternal grandmother was a "life-giver". She was quiet yet caring; helpful; teaching; and she shared some concerns with me about my life choices when I was 17.  I'll never forget that she told me that even though I had a beautiful diamond ring, "the diamond doesn't make the marriage." 

My aunt/Godmother was another influence, like a second mother.  She could see relationships like I could not.  She had a protecting attitude towards me, perhaps because she did not have any daughters of her own, yet I knew her concern and love was genuine. 

Another relative excelled in everything she set out to do.  She was quite confident, and to me, then a child, I couldn't think of how to talk to her or relate to anything she said or did. 

QUESTION #3: Now after thinking about the life-givers or takers, do you think about yourself in either way? 

MY PERSONAL REFLECTION: I could see myself as a good, supportive person, and I didn't ever want to portray myself as the know-it-all personality. 

I asked myself, "I'm not old, am I?  I'm not quite there yet am I, at 72?  I'm being reluctant and uncertain.   I have grey hair, no longer working, slowing down physically, not contributing as much." These are the world view of aging, but not with grace.  If I keep focusing on these obvious qualities, I will face fear, dread and denial.  Will that be healthy for me? (AWG)

We're back to QUESTION #1 again. "Do you want to fluorish?"  Yes I say!  Yes!  How about you?

"AGING WITH GRACE" will teach us how to flourish from this day forward.  HOW?  We will fluorish around God's table in community with other women.

"AGING WITH GRACE" is not a list of ideas or formulas

WHAT IF:  we are supposed to discover who we really are or have been since the 1st half of our life?

It’s OK to look back at our lives.  I've got about 69 years of memory (3 y.o. is my first memories) Sometimes its hard not to replay events that we may have not completely healed from; or that we didn't understand; or that remain unresolved.  But here's the thing: the authors of AWG tell us, encourage us, that it’s OK to look back but don't stay in the past! If we're going to look backwards, then let's immediately THANK the Lord for what He has done to pull us through.   Don't Linger in the past - do you do that? be honest with yourself - only look back so you can go forward!

This really hit home with me.  Every now and again, I find myself thinking about my life as a single parent of three; going to college and working to have a better life to raise my children.  I think about how much time has passed and some things aren't resolved.  

The hope I have found: its OK to look back at my life for the purpose of PRAISING the Lord for what He has done to bring me this far; AND What am I going to do with the time I have left?  We will learn this from Women of the Bible and the scriptures.

To summarize this Introduction to Aging with Grace, we have had life givers and lifetakers in our life.  We look backwards at harder times, but we have the Lord to thank for getting us past those times, don't we?   We aren't running this Aging race alone, because we have each other, we have community.  So we ask ourselves: Do we want to Fluorish - to thrive in a healthy vigorous way?  Or do we want to be stuck in the past and let the world's view of an older woman dictate our thoughts with denial, fear and dread?  

FLUORISH together in community? or LIVE IN THE PAST in Fear and dread?

Read our focus verses.  Get to know them - the Lord has given His plan for us in these verses.  

Check out the links by clicking on the colored words.   

Follow along for more of Aging with Grace.  

Write in your journal, or do some doodling to reflect on Psalm 92:12-15

Here’s a bookmark you could make about Psalm 92.  If you got a book from me, then you'll be getting a bookmark. 

                                            

                                                

I gathered some cedar branches and wrapped each piece in packaging tape so it was sealed. You could use a laminator instead if you wish. 

I added the Psalm on one side, and my paraphrase on the reverse.  Fill in the blank with your name.  

                                                

                                                

Thank the Lord for his lovingkindness and fellowship in community.   

Be Blessed! sb 

 

Let's Thrive over 65!

Do you ever journal? I mean, do you write a note or a thought or a word in a notebook?  I started art journaling this year, and I recommend it to you, to everyone.  The one thing I love the most is that there are only the rules that you make - its doodling, its taking some time to declutter your mind, its a few minutes with your feet up or away from the noise of your life. There's no rhyme or reason why I decided to put these words or scripture with the doodle art.  But there doesn't have to be, and I certainly enjoyed playing with color.  Grab an old planner - I got mine free at a yard sale - and start doodling.   Write a note about why you picked the colors, or what you saw that made you laugh today.  I've just been journaling over the summer (2026) and I've already reread my own words and was surprised - we can't remember every thing we ever thought.   Try It!

Here is the link for the book that my Women's Fellowship Group will be focusing on in SEPT & OCT of '26.   Follow along with your own copy of this book, also available on Kindle.  This is the book "Aging with Grace" 

Follow this page for weekly notes and reflections I'll share, using study questions from this book, my own life experiences, and scriptures from the Bible.

Many women I have talked with over the last year have the same concerns: how do we live our best lives while our bodies are aging and our society does not honor us as senior women? How do we put one foot in front of the other and live with the same joy that we have celebrated through our earlier years?

Our Fellowship & Study begins September 17.   Come back and join us here on this blog!

Be Blessed! sb

FROM SERENITEA TO SERENITY

                                    

Hello there!  Thanks for stopping by! 

THE BEGINNINGS OF THIS BLOG AND WHAT IT EVOLVED TO BE

I started this blog "Serenitea-sb" in 2012 to share the tea parties I held, the menus, table settings, linens, decorations - all ways we found serenity.  I've discovered as I look back, that several of these guests have passed away, so having the memory of time spent together with their photo has been comforting to their family as well as to me, a tea party friend.  As time passed, I began to share my journey with weight loss and getting physically fit - something I'd never done in this way.  And from that I have written many personal thoughts about my faith, and the growth I experienced through all of the above.  

FROM SERENITEA TO SERENITY

So now in 2026, I have decided to share my writing again and invite you to be a part of it.  Though my blog is still called "Serenitea" you will find it is not just about tea!  I hope you will follow along as I share my thoughts, writings, and women's fellowship notes on the studies my friends and I are doing. Plus, if doing a bit of artsy projects brings you serenity, I hope you will pull up a chair because there's space around my table for you.  Let's enjoy some fellowship & creativity together!

BLOG POSTS FROM THE PAST

Take a tour through the posts from the past: tea parties, devotions, weight loss journey which includes my thoughts and concerns about making big changes in my lifestyle.  

BLOG POSTS BEGIN AGAIN

Beginning mid-September of 2026, I plan to be posting notes from my Women's Fellowship Group as well as regular thoughts and ideas that will inspire you all!

We'll be diving into the "Aging with Grace" book based on Psalm 92:12, 14.  You can purchase it if you wish through the Revive our Hearts ministry website or from Amazon. 

Revive our Hearts Womens Ministry

Aging With Grace

For my creative side, follow me on Instagram and YouTube where I share my paper crafting and junk journaling ideas, and inspiration from everyday life with nature that brings me serenity. 

Click on the blue lettered words above and below, which will be an active link to those sites.

Instagram

YouTube

                                

Whatever you do today, find a little time for Serenity!  Be Blessed! sb