Jeremiah 17:8 – He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. (NIV)

My husband retired just before Christmas. Days later, we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. The whole month of December was a time of celebration.

What now? We are both in good health. God willing, we have at least another ten years — hopefully, twenty. His mother passed away at 94. My mother is 92 and still living alone.

Everyone asked my husband about his plans. Would we travel? That is certainly possible. We will no doubt visit my family in England. We enjoy warm places in winter. But we have no definite plans, no dreamed-of destination.

He was asked if he had a hobby. A musician, as well as an accountant, he plays with a praise team at church. His band provides classic rock entertainment for the occasional dance. He loves building: home maintenance in winter, improving our cabin in summer.

What about his bucket list? He shrugged: there is no bucket list. We have always taken opportunities and made the effort to do the things that we want. We returned to school, moved several times, farmed, renovated houses. There were dry, lean years. But we are satisfied and at peace.

Attention invariably turned to me. Warned that hubby would be bored and get in my way, I assured everyone that I had a long list of jobs for him to do. That finally satisfied them.

The truth is that we want only God's plans for us. Our hair may be white, but we have all kinds of experience and skills that God can use. We await our instructions!

Psalm 92:14 – They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green. (NIV)

Romans 15:13 – Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (MSG)

Green is the colour of spring and things growing — the clean, fresh colour of new life, new beginnings. The production of green chlorophyll, essential for plants to use energy from the sun, is also dependent on light. If a plant is far from light, it loses its colour and eventually dies. In the same way, Christians must be infused with the life-giving energy of the Spirit.

Hope is a golden cord connecting us to heaven, a ray of sunshine after a long cold winter. We are like olive trees flourishing in the house of God, with deep roots in Living Water.

God does not allow us to retire from His work. Feeling old and tired, we should place our hope in Him.

Proverbs 11:28 – Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. (NIV)

Prayer: Father, You make us to lie down in green pastures; You lead us beside quiet waters and refresh our soul. Continue to use us, and may we bear fruit until our last breath. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

JJ Ollerenshaw <sandjollie86@gmail.com>
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
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