Old like me

Old Soul – A spiritual person whom is wise beyond their years; people of strong emotional stability. Basically, someone whom has more understanding of the world around them.

And that’s the best definition I could find via Google – the rest all involve ‘many lifetimes’ and the like.  Hogwash.

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My entire life I’ve been told I’m an old soul.  I now have Annie, and my eldest is most certainly an old soul.  Is it nature?  Nurture?  I’m not sure, but either way, it is.

I know it, and I’ve never tried to deny it.  I’m an old woman in a youngish woman’s body.

I was reminded of this fact last week when I heard someone state that ‘old’ people often think children should sit down and be quiet in church.  I bit my tongue at the time (quite a feat, as those who know me can attest) but later reflected on how once again, I am old.

And I’m okay with that, truly.  I have always enjoyed the company of those much older than myself.  I’ve always related better to the elderly than to my own peers.  I would far rather spend an afternoon with someone who has really lived life, than a young person who has done little living but much posturing.

I aspire to be the old woman described in the Bible in Titus 2:3-5:

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

I’m not there yet.  Submission is not easy, but I’m working on it.

So yes, I’m an old person.  And I like other old people.  Of all ages.

Annie is only 7, yet I marvel daily at her deep and profound understanding of God and the real world.  Real meaning that which is truly important.

Because she is a child, she thinks like a child.  She only recently realized that Mickey Mouse at Disney World is somewhat less than, um, real.  But because she is an old soul, she also once said that she’s not sure Christian women should be wearing makeup, because it sends a conflicting message about what is really important.

I love that kid.

And I pray that we will have many, many more years in which to grow old, together.

PS) I readily admit, I do believe that children should sit down and be quiet in church.  Certainly I don’t mind to hear the occasional peep, but more than that is disruptive to your fellow worshipers and disrespectful to the God we are there to honor.  They must learn to sit still and be quiet.  It’s a good lesson.

Or so says my inner old lady.