Barbara entered the church nursery and settled into the rocking chair. She was early, as usual, so no one else was around. The service didn’t start for another fifteen minutes, so parents weren’t ready to drop off their little ones yet. She rubbed her aching knee. It had been acting up more than usual lately. She hadn’t been able to take Oscar for a walk all week. Fortunately, he was content to run around the yard.

            Sarah entered with her teenage daughter, Ava. “Good morning, Barbara. Are you ready to hug some babies?”
            Barbara brightened. “Thank goodness you brought Ava along. She can run around with the toddlers.”

            Ava grinned. “That’s my favorite part. Babies are boring. But the two-year-olds are lots of fun.”

            Barbara rose from the chair, feeling every one of her years. “If you say so. I don’t have the energy for them anymore.”

            Sarah nodded. “Even I don’t have the energy some days. It’s still fun to play with the little ones, though. I remember how much I enjoyed being able to go to church when my kids were young. This is an important ministry.”

            Barbara swallowed hard. Yes, it was important, but how long could she keep this up? Every day seemed a little more tiring. And every day, something else seemed to ache. Willing herself to ignore her knee, she headed to the door, where parents started to line up.

            Twenty minutes later, the nursery was full. Barbara returned to the rocking chair with a nine-month-old in her lap. He was enthralled as Barbara turned the pages of a board book, pointing to the colorful pictures. Ava ran around with the toddlers, while Sarah changed a diaper. There was barely a moment of calm until the parents returned. Every bone in Barbara’s body screamed out for a hot bath. She handed the children back to their parents and hurried home.

            Back at the house, she heated some soup and called Warren to the table. He settled across from her and picked up his spoon. “How was the nursery today? I’m sorry we had to take separate cars since I had that meeting before church.”

            Barbara sighed. “It was fine. But I think I’m getting too old for it.”

            Warren shrugged. “Then stop doing it.”

            Barbara stared into her bowl of soup. “But then what will I do? I have to be useful somehow.”

            Warren lifted his busy eyebrows. “What do you mean? You’re plenty useful.”

            “I used to have so much energy. I worked all week long, then taught Sunday School. I was on the missions committee, helped with the rummage sales, and helped with Vacation Bible School. Now I don’t do any of those things.”

            “We’re retired. That’s the point. We worked hard our whole lives, and now we get to relax.”

            Barbara sighed. “I understand that, but if I can’t do something useful for God, why am I still around? I’m tired of feeling useless.”

            Warren pointed his spoon at Barbara. “You’ve got it all wrong. Getting old is a blessing.”

            Barbara’s eyed rounded. “What on earth do you mean?”

            Warren rose from the table and grabbed his Bible. “I’ve got a few verses for you.” He flipped a few pages and read aloud. “Job 12:12 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? And 1 Kings 3:14, God tells Solomon ‘if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.’”

            Warren met Barbara’s eye. “You remember Ephesians 2:10.”

             “Of course, I do. That was on the fridge for a long time while the children were young.” Barbara recited from memory. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. But what does that have to do with me?”

            “Do you think once you get to a certain age, God no longer has good works prepared for you to do? Sure, you might not have as much energy as you used to, but you have something those young people don’t have. You have wisdom. That takes years to acquire. Think about Moses. He was eighty when God called him to confront Pharoah.”

            Barbara studied her husband, and her heart filled with love. What a blessing he was. God knew what He was doing when He brought them together. “I guess you’re right. But I still don’t know what I can do.”

            Warren pulled a folded paper from the front of his Bible. He brought it to the table and took his seat. “It just so happens that the church has several opportunities for you. I guess you didn’t pick up a bulletin since you were in the nursery.”

            “No, I didn’t. What does it say?”

            Warren opened the bulletin and read aloud. “They’re looking for prayer warriors to join the church prayer chain, people to send encouraging letters to missionaries, people to call the shut-ins, to send cards to those in the hospital, and make meals for the sick or those who just had a baby.”

            Barbara straightened. “I can do all those things.”

            Warren laughed. “Of course you can. You don’t have to run around after the kindergartners or rebuild the parsonage roof. God has plans for you, no matter your age.” He squeezed Barbara’s hand. “I’ve got one more verse for you. Take a look at Psalm 71. But for now, let’s eat our soup before it gets cold.”

 Psalm 71: 17-18

Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

God, thank You for the seasons of life. Help us remember that our worth does not depend on our age. Help the young use their energy to serve you, and those who are older to use their wisdom. Thank You for those around us who encourage us, and thank you for giving us all different gifts and abilities. Help us seek out ways to serve You and others, no matter what season of life we’re in. In Jesus’ name, Amen.