I was years into my forties when I discovered my love (now turned addiction, admittedly) for tennis. While I have a lifelong history of playing sports, I had never taken a tennis lesson, nor did I know anything about the details of the game until I was well beyond my youthful years. Much to my chagrin, every single school-aged year I spent competitively swimming didn’t do much to lay a foundation for my racquet obsession. Nor did my several young adult years of softball, flag football, and even floor hockey. Sadly, none of these sporty skills translated seamlessly onto a tennis court. Thankfully, though,you can teach an old dog new tricks!

With hours of lessons, practice, team and individual play every week, not to mention watching videos and following experts, I have invested myself in this sport. I now understand technique and strategy for both doubles and singles games, and I’ve become quite competitive at my level. Today, at 55-years-old, after twelve years of focus on the courts, I have knowledge, aptitude, endurance, and a highly competitive spirit. But…what I don’t have anymore is a young body. And although I deal with aches, pains, and longer recovery times, I wouldn’t trade what I have now for what I had in my twenties (the age of many of my singles opponents).

This is definitely counter-cultural thinking, as everything out there sells us on the idea that we should work hard to hide any signs of aging, somehow overcoming the basic biology of our human anatomy. In Christian circles, there is a bit of debate as to whether aging is a direct consequence of the Fall of man, or whether it is a natural and intended process that was corrupted by disease, suffering, and death as a result of the original sin (Genesis 3). Regardless, it’s an inescapable truth that if we remain alive past a certain point, our bodies will begin a slow process of decay…and in those years, we have a choice:

We can idolize youth and get stuck in the sadness of what we are losing, or we can celebrate the gifts that God gives us as we age. 

Of course, I wish my joints didn’t ache some days; no doubt, I remember the days of a faster metabolism and more energy; and yes, I would prefer if I didn’t have to deal with coloring the grays out of my hair every five weeks, but there are real blessings that come with age, and they are worth recognizing and treasuring.

Wisdom

Scripture is filled with verses extolling the benefits of wisdom, with its ability to strengthen and protect us, bring us peace, hope, and long life, as well as divine connection. The Book of Proverbs, known for its guidance for living through principled choices, healthy relationships, and moral decision-making was written by a man known in the Bible as the wisest of all kings, Solomon (1 Kings 10:23). What is most interesting about him is that he was given the opportunity to receive anything he asked for from God, and of all things, he chose wisdom. God gave him “a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like [him], nor will there ever be” (1 Kings 3:12). Solomon understood that wisdom was foundational to a good, healthy, faithful life. As well, he points out in the Book of Ecclesiastes that human wisdom alone, even when combined with riches, hard work, and fun times, will only keep you longing for more; it’s all meaningless without God. Only Godly wisdom and relationship will fill you (Ecclesiastes 12).

For most, wisdom comes with age and experience. We learn often by making mistakes, recovering from them, and making different (and better) decisions the next time around. We learn from watching others, growing closer to and listening to God, and educating ourselves to lead healthy, balanced lives. These things happen over time, but growth becomes apparent with focused discipline and years of living. This is true on the tennis courts and in life.

Faith and Perspective

These two go hand-in-hand; the deeper your faith, the more your perspective shifts. Over time, it becomes apparent that the majority of things we have and experience in this world are temporary, while the most important things are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Though this current generation continues to seek fame, power, and wealth, nothing will compare to the riches gained from a close relationship with Jesus. For many people, it takes the trials of achieving earthly goals only to find that their hearts still yearn for more. Only a deepening of faith over time, or repeated (and failed) attempts to find fulfillment in things and other people will teach this lesson. With a secure identity in Christ, we are able to re-prioritize, knowing that our own glory fades and wealth, unless eternal, will never be ample. Whether it’s fame gained through a tennis ranking, a career title or salary, or a certain number of followers, we cannot accomplish enough to satisfy our souls. Only Jesus can do that, and He not only saves us, but also a lot of heartache, frustration, and effort in attempts to do what we can never achieve.

Humility and Self-Control

Again, these two are also paired for a reason. I was always a smart kid, getting good grades throughout school and college. I learned easily, worked hard when I needed to, and felt so proud of the knowledge I accumulated and used. It’s been a funny thing to continue learning as I age, only to realize that the more I know, the more it’s apparent that I actually know so little in the vast, grand scheme of things. It often takes age to gain this vision that brings such humility. Looking back at my youthful arrogance, I frequently believed I knew enough and/or what was best, and that naive belief often fueled my speech and behavior. Today, it’s much easier to have the self-control to hold my tongue or pause before taking action, knowing I should consider listening, because I may still have more to learn. As much or more than wisdom, the Bible is filled with encouragement to remain humble; it is not self-deprecation, but instead framed as a vital heart attitude. It’s what keeps us and God in our rightful places, and self-control is a fruit or reward for submitting our lives to Him. To bring it full circle, Proverbs 11:2 tells us, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” How many hot-headed moments can you recall when you were just certain about something, only to be proven wrong later? We’ve all been there, but hopefully with less frequency as we age.

When I consider these things: wisdom, faith, perspective, humility, and self-control, I no longer wish for the days of my youth. Suddenly, I care less about the physical effects of getting older, because I understand the greater value of these much deeper things that anchor my life. Funny enough, I’m still winning tennis matches against women who are young enough to be my daughters. And yes, they are more toned and faster than me, but I find that I can often play wiser, with a longer perspective, and more composed regardless of the score. Turns out, these skills that come with maturity work in many facets of our lives, even on the courts.

Age can be a beautiful thing, even if we don’t feel physically as beautiful as we once did, for we know that true beauty comes from within. A wise, faith-filled heart overshadows any imperfections and wins every time!

Will you pray with me? 

Father in Heaven, thank You that You are always near and that You created our minds to learn and grow. How generous You are with the gifts You give us, especially those that draw us closer to You and bring more joy into our lives. Help us, Lord, to see the good You have for us, no matter our age. Every day and year You give us is a blessing, and we ask that You help us to treat it as such. May we bring You glory as we age and be an example to others of the purpose and value we have, regardless of our birth date. In Jesus’ name, Amen.