A FEW WEEKS AGO I SUDDENLY REALIZED I AM IN THE WINTER SEASON OF MY LIFE

We all know and understand that time has a way of moving quickly and catching each and every one of us unaware of the quick passing of our years. As I write this it seems like yesterday that I as a young, just married young man was embarking on my new life with my chosen mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons of years ago, and I truly wonder where all the years have now gone. I know that I have personally lived each and every one of these years, but I still do not understand everything that I have lived through as of yet. 
I still have great glimpses of how it was back in the beginning of my marriage when I was developing all my hopes and dreams spiritually and even the hopes and dreams for my life in this world. But, here I am writing and the winter of my life has literally caught me off guard, in fact it has caught me by surprise. How did I get here so fast? Where did my youth go? How did the years go so fast? Did I miss seeing something? 
I remember during my lifetime seeing older people and thinking that those old people were years ahead of me and so far removed from me. I can also remember that winter seemed to be so far ahead of me at that time. It seemed like winter was so far ahead of me that I could not fathom it, understand it or imagine fully what winter would be like for me.
But, as I write, winter is here. All of my friends who are still living are grey headed on Medicare and most are retired or retiring. I noticed most of my peers are moving slower and so feeble in their actions and reactions. Some of my peers are in better shape than I am and some are even in worse shape than me. As I have awakened in this era of my life when I look in the mirror I look into the face of an old man.
Yes, I do see the great change that winter has brought to me. Not one of my old friends look like the individual that I remember when we were all young and vibrant. But, as I write I am made aware of the fact that like me, age is beginning to show on the statures and faces of my older friends and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we would so quickly be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real targeted feat of my day! Taking an afternoon nap is not just an added treat anymore but it is a mandatory feat, something I must do! Because if I do not take a nap on my own free will, I will just nod off and even fall asleep where I sit!
Now as I enter into this new season of my life I realize I am unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and 
do things that I wish I had done but never did! I must also make it clear I am not at all enjoying becoming an old man. But when I think of the options that I have, I will just continue to accept this winter season as the next phase of my life.
This one thing I do know, though the winter has now come to pay me a visit, and I am not sure how long it will last, this one thing I do know, when my winter time is over on this earth, at that time my new eternal life I will begin. This eternal life is the life I have been preparing for and it will be worth it all for me.
I must admit as I enter the winter season of my life, I do have so many regrets. There are so many things I wish I had not done. There are so many things I should have done, so many things I should have accomplished for the Lord. But as I sit here and write today I realize there are so many things I am happy to have done and so many accomplishments that I am thankful for. As I write all that I am thinking about are the things that have made up my life.
Let me remind all of you, especially you that are younger, if you are not in the winter of your life yet let me remind you, that it will be upon you quicker than you think. Let this old man give you some advice, what ever you would like to accomplish in your life for God please do it quickly! Please do not put things off too long! Life is racing you by so quickly. Do what you can for God today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not.
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life as some folks have. Live for God with all your heart today. Love your family and friends with all your heart and tell them often how much you love them. Show your love to the whole world and live in such a way that everyone will feel and appreciate you for all the things that you have done for them in your living for God.
Always remember, "Life" is a gift that God Himself has given to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who you touch and follow you. Make your life a fantastic life by totally submitting to the will of God. Let the people that see you and that you touch see Jesus in the way that you live. 
Yes, as I live through this winter season of my life I realize if I am going to touch this world, I must do it now. If I am going to touch the people around me and change some lives I have to do it with all the strength that I have left. If I am going to lead people to my Savior, I must compel them and reach for them with what might and strength I have left in me. I like the Apostle Paul can never be ashamed to preach, teach and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ where ever I am. As I reach this winter season of my life I cannot retire from living for the Lord and proclaiming His name and sharing His gospel to all the people I touch, meet and see.
Jesus, my prayer is simple, “Use me as you see fit so that even in this winter season of my life I will continue to fulfill your will and when it is all done, I will hear you say to me, well done.”