Retirement

February 11, 2016

Well, I did it! I retired and I've got to say there are some really great things about being retired as well as some...shall we say, challenging things. I retired in September and although I didn't really plan on retiring this soon, God laid it upon my heart that this was the time, so here I am....60 years old, and retired. When I first decided to retire, a friend who is already retired suggested to me that I not make any solid commitments for the first 6 months and it was some of the best advice I received. 

I worried that I wouldn't have enough to do, but that hasn't proven to be the case. The first few months, Toby and I stripped the deck, washed it down, and painted it. Then we totally emptied our utility room, built shelves, and went through everything and put it back. After that there was a repair that needed to be made to the wall in the house, which required painting the whole inside when the repair was done. Then we put a ceramic backsplash over the kitchen sink. We cleaned out closets and by that time Toby was practically begging me to go back to work (outside of the home)!!! He was worn out. I promised him we would stop till after Christmas.  Now it's February and we are back at it. I know he keeps hoping I'll take another job some where...

There are some down sides to being retired...
      *You aren't really on a routine, you don't have to get up and take a shower if you don't
        want to. (I can honestly say, I try not to go without but...somedays.....well, call me
         before to make sure)
      *You don't see very many people and as a women, you know we have all these words we
         need to get out in a day so I find myself talking to the dog, cat, stove and if you happen
         to cross my path, I will probably keep you for longer than you want me to. (If I see you
         hide from me in the grocery store, or cross the street when you see me coming, I
         promise not to take offense.)
      *Your budget is tighter. You find yourself making choices between "needs" and "wants",
        and even the "needs" are scrutinized. Not really a bad thing.

With all of that there are some really incredible things about being retired. 
Things I truly love.
       *I get to sleep late and don't have to take a shower and get dressed if I don't want to.
       *I can visit with people where they are, for how ever long I want without having to rush.
       *I don't have to go to the grocery store on Friday night or Saturday
       *I have time to find creative ways to do things and I love that.
       *I was able to spend a lot of time with my family, even spent 3 weeks with Amber in CA
         and had so much fun. Looking forward to having the opportunity to spend more time
         with family and friends that live elsewhere.

But the very best thing about retirement - I get the opportunity to spend time in the Word.  Oh my, what a joy that is!  I study His Word, talk to Him, listen to Him, pray for others, journal.  It is such a treat for me.  Instead of a routine, I find I am taking time to seek Him and His face.  To seek His wisdom and comfort.  To walk with Him constantly through the nuances of my new stage in life.

At first upon retiring, I thought "What have I done? What am I going to do?  How am I going to live?" I have worked since I was 15 and was unsure of what to do, but God impressed upon me to REST, RELAX and REFRESH.  So I rest in Him, relax in the assurance that He is on the throne, and refresh myself with His word.  After all, He hasn't failed me yet, and He certainly hasn't finished with me yet. 

One of my very favorite scriptures is Deuteronomy 33:12 "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." I love that!  The picture of just being so weary and laying our head between the shoulders of God!  Oh what a picture!!!

Excuse me now while I go rest!!!