Aging with Grace: Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture

Betters (Treasures of Encouragement), cofounder of Markinc Ministries, and Hunt (Spiritual Mothering), former director of women’s ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America, speak eloquently to women about aging gracefully, combining personal experience (Betters is 72; Hunt is 80), scripture study, and prayer. Their core scriptural study is an in-depth look at Psalm 92 (“The one who created us promises we can flourish and bear fruit, we can be full of sap and green, even in old age”) and Psalm 71, and a survey of biblical figures who thrived in old age, including Anna (a widow whose strong faith grows through the 60 years she lives alone), Elizabeth (who used the disappointment of not being able to have children to develop “perspective of her life and the world that was God-centered and not self-centered”), and the matriarchs of the Israelite exile. Scattered throughout are “Growing in Grace” principles: “As life slows down, we can become controlling and critical, or we can reflect on God’s sovereign love that chose and planted us in his house.” While Betters and Hunt provide insightful profiles, the end result is more of a scriptural study than a guide, and there isn’t much in the way of advice. Despite this, older Christians will comfort in these moving scriptural lessons. (Jan.)