As I held the soft hands of 91 year old Betty Skinner, she said something like this, “Sue, I really love this season in my life. There is little I need to do each day. I have many hours to pray, to read, to commune with God. This is a sweet, sweet season. But I must tell you, I miss the years of teaching and leading spiritual retreats. Those years were such fun. And I will always miss my mountains.”
Betty is rocked to rest by these two truths: the past is already ours to keep and it is good to be grateful for today. I can hear in Betty’s gentle voice the words of Psalm 131:1-2 (MSG).
God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
or fantasized grandiose plans.
I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
my soul is a baby content.
May we cultivate a quiet heart, season by season, until our soul is a baby content.
