Hello all and happy Wednesday. Hope you are all well and safe.
It is a damp morning here - we got some more rain over night. I did not hear it at all - but everything is wet. YAY! So happy for it, as it is surely needed. Today should be in the 70's, which is perfect to me.
Today I want to share something I received a couple days ago. I think it says things perfectly.
The Stages We Walk Life has always felt to me like a long walk down a familiar road.
In our twenties and thirties, the pace changes. We walk faster. We chase goals, careers, love, and the dream of building something that’s ours. Sometimes, we stumble. Sometimes, we sprint. These are the years of late-night deadlines, little league games, and family dinners squeezed between busy schedules. The road feels uphill, but the climb gives us strength.
By our forties and fifties, the road begins to level out. We are no longer running — we are walking with purpose. We carry children on our shoulders, mortgages on our backs, and hopes in our hearts. It is tiring, yes, but also beautiful. Because these are the years when we discover what truly matters: not the pace, but the company we keep.
Then, the sixties, seventies, and beyond. The road gets quieter. Our steps slow, but our eyes see more than they ever did before. We notice the shade of the trees, the softness of the breeze, the sound of laughter drifting from behind us. These are the years of holding grandchildren’s hands, planting gardens, and writing letters that will outlive us. We know the truth now: it was never about how fast we walked — it was about who walked beside us.
And one day, each of us will reach the end of the road. That part is not sad — it is simply part of the journey. Because even when our footsteps fade, the echoes remain in the hearts of those who loved us. The road continues for them, carrying pieces of us forward.
The lesson? Don’t rush the stages. Don’t sprint past the moments. Every chapter has its own beauty — from the barefoot days of childhood to the slower steps of old age.Because in the end, life isn’t about how quickly we walked… but how deeply we loved along the way. 
Yesterday, I spent the day with sis, and as usual we talked and talked. I learn things every time we visit. Being the youngest, I missed out on a lot of things that got done and shared. She is the eldest and saw it all. I lean things that MAYBE I wasn't supposed to learn!!! But they are being shared and I have a new look on family from the past. It is always evolving. I saw pictures I have never in 70 years seen. Pretty cool. Life just keeps giving.
As the 'story' says - the 60's, 70's, and beyond kind of slow and we see life differently. I really am enjoying this season of life. So many things that were missed in our busy lives before are seen and heard now.
Life is an adventure. It has seasons just like all things in nature. I hope you each enjoy the season you are in and make it something great. Pass on the stories, good and indifferent - it is part of your history and those just coming up. I so enjoy learning all the things. I feel it enriches my life. New lessons are learned.
Talk about those before you and those no longer here - it keeps them alive.
Enjoy the story. Enjoy life and your family and friends.
Today is one of a kind and will never come again. Make it special.
Have a blessed day all.
Definitely the most important thing in life is those we walk with—helping each other along the road. Our Savior, afterall, valued people over all else.
ReplyDeleteYes mam. We need our family, friends, and Lord every day. They sure make the journey better.
DeleteSharing family stories is so important. How I wish I could talk again with some of my family members who have passed on. I was just too young in most cases to appreciate and ask them. You think you have a long time when you're young to do those things.
ReplyDeleteOh me too. So many questions I would love to ask. Yes, when young we do not think in terms of immortality.
DeleteLearn and share what you can.
Thank you for sharing this Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome.
DeleteI love to tell stories like this! I like to drive Bailey to places we lived and tell her stories about times before he was born. Such a great blog post - I really like this. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is cool you are sharing with your daughter. She may not realize now, but some day it will be a blessing to remember these things. I love it.
DeleteFabulous post! When one has much older siblings, some things are no known to the younger ones. It is wonderful that you are able to listen to your sister share. I used to love to listen to stories my much older brothers would tell. The "Stages We Walk" is so good! I did a cut and paste and printed it. Some folks get caught up in making money, pursuing a higher level in their career that they don't pay attention to the important things in life.
ReplyDeleteToday is Yom Teruah so we will just chill out. Enjoy your day! We are grateful for the rain.
The older ones in our families are a wealth of information. So much I missed coming along later - but I am hearing about it now!
DeleteAll the gold in the world is useless in my opinion to the joys of family and friends.
I was by far the youngest in my family and missed so much. My parents were the age of my friends' grandparents. They did live to see my children, and I have one child who somewhat remembers both of them, but the grandparent thing didn't happen on that side of the family (not for my line).
ReplyDeleteIt would have been wonderful to hear more from my brothers, but I was so busy raising little ones, and they were getting ready for retirement, so we didn't have much relaxed-and-remembering time together. That said, I miss my brothers tremendously, they were always there for me. :)
Yes, who you walk with makes all the difference, and the only constant may well be The Good Lord, if you allow that to happen.
Great post, Cheryl!
MaryB
Your family sounds much like mine. I was 101/2 years after all the others. Parents were in their 40's when they had me.
DeleteWe never did much of the 'family catch-up' until recently. Luckily I still have 2 siblings left.
I only knew 1 grandparent and didn't see her much.
Family is a treasure - it is who we are in many ways. I know not all families are good, but we are all still of the same DNA.
God makes the biggest difference in my life.
Wishing you a wonderful fall - make it fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks and back at ya!
DeleteI have almost no family, only two cousins. No children, no siblings and overall a very small family. My dad’s parents died before I was born. I was close to my grandfather but he died when I was 10. My grandmother was a very good person but would talk of nothing but religion so I did not really get to know her. But I have wonderful friends who were there for me when I needed them most.
ReplyDeleteFlooring finally finished. They did a good job and were nice, honest and helpful guys - brothers. (They were the subcontractors of the flooring store I used.) I mentioned to one guy that one bathroom door did not close right to let him know for the flooring and in the end he removed the door and moved the hinges and made it perfect for me. He also put new seals on the toilets which they had to remove to do the floors. It was a pretty big project and I’m glad it’s done.
Friends can be family!
DeleteSo happy you got that project done and had good guys to do it. Sounds like they were thorough!
Very encouraging, I love your contentment, do you know it's contagious? Yes, so much positive in our age group. I'll be 65 soon, hubs is 70 and it's a quiet, contented time pretty much if I can get through the minutia of things thrown at us at 65 and my poor mama with her challenges. But yes, we have a lot to say and give. Nice thoughts here. I like them. : ) Be encouraged as you encourage others. Let's be that encourager! : ) God bless, ~Amelia
ReplyDeleteI hope it is contagious. I want others to know life can be good even when so many things change. We have different seasons and as they progress, things change. Change doesn't mean they have to be bad.
DeleteYes, let us all lead the way!
Oops. Hubs is 72. : )
ReplyDeleteAs we age we learn what is most important to us and I think that leads to more contentment in our older years. Though I do feel sometimes that the world is passing me by, it doesn't matter as much because I don't feel the need to keep up.
ReplyDeleteAnd for many of us, aging means we're no longer working and can focus on those things that bring us joy.