MY BIRTHDAY 86

Hello family and friends. My 86th birthday is going to be this October 20 and I am very happy to be able to reach this eighth floor and enjoy this first creation with loved ones and such beautiful people as you all. We are finding many people in this walk of life, some ones approach and others move away. But today in this celebration, I want to talk to you about the elderly like me.

I tell you that maturity is the art of living in peace with what we cannot change. The art of aging consists in preserving hope. What is the best hope than we have? Be with God at the heavenly homeland. Do not forget that when we age, beauty becomes an inner quality. Did you know that for the fool the old age is winter? But for others it is harvest season. We must be grateful with age, because old age is the price of being alive for many years. Some are happy collecting coins from the past, visiting ancient cathedrals, museums or paintings of celebrities, but they completely forget the moral and spiritual value of the elderly.

Remember: Goethe concluded "Faust" at age 82; Titian painted masterpieces at age 98; Edison worked in his laboratory at age 83; Toscanini conducted orchestras at age 87; Benjamin Franklin contributed to the Constitution of the United States at age 81; Jacinto Convit is about to make a vaccine against cancer at age 96; José Joaquín Agudelo, a Colombian, wrote online messages of salvation for all mankind at age 95, and his family follows his legacy; J. Antonio Aristizabal, Colombian poet, at 80 years old delights us with his poetry. Remember that nothing can stop the elders who dream and wait for the moment of hope. We know that time passed ... yes, it happened ... but he didn't take the heart with it.

Old age always surprises us, we want to live for many years, but not to grow old, so I want that we remember these healthy tips that someone wrote, and so we can put them into practice: Take care of your personal presentation day by day, organizing yourself as if you were for a party. What more party than life? Do not lock yourself in any place as if you were a voluntary prisoner, you should leave frequently, not forgetting that the stagnant water rots and an immovable machine still molds. A bit of gymnastics, a reasonable walk and reading the Bible would do you much good. Let's be very active, open the door, water the garden, and answer the phone, that is, any movement that takes you off the couch or comfort.

Do not feel collapsed old man/woman, you should not walk with your head down or your back bent, because so everyone who passes by would say you: How handsome/beautiful you are! The gray hair is colored, the wrinkles are softened with a smile, do not talk about your age or your aches, you will always answer: I am well, glory to God! Remember: the soul does not age; it is the body that wrinkles. Try to be useful to yourself and others, as far as possible. The elderly must always be loving, accommodated and kind.

Finally, the most important advice I want to give you is: We must be people of great faith in Jesus Christ. Thus we will set a good example for our family and all those around us. Do not feel useless in your old age, we all need your love, joy and smile. Look at Jesus and you will find rest. God is our Father; allow this reality to enter the depths of your heart, so that you can face the challenges of life.

With love,

María Fanny Agudelo

10/9/2019