This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NLT)
Waiting their turn to get their haircut at a popular barbershop, a couple of older gentlemen enter the shop having a hilarious dialogue. Each one took a turn making a statement that started with the phrase, “You know you’re old when…” Just so you can see the scene, know that this was one of those barbershops where a bunch of grown men sit patiently and alert, trying to keep track of when it will be their turn to get called to the chair of their favorite barber. And as you may know, just like the beauty shop, where the beauticians get all in everybody’s conversation, the barbers do the same thing.
Here is some of the back and forth talk that various customers stated, sharing their input around the subject, “You know you’re old when.” The dialogue traveled around the room in a contagious form of chatter, accompanied by background laughter. It included: “You know you’re old when your children start getting AARP cards.” “You know you’re old when you have to use a shoehorn or buy slip on footwear for to put on every single pair of shoes you own.” “You know you’re old when you go to a high school reunion and nobody recognizes each other.” “You know you’re old when you talk about the recording artists that were well-known back in the day and some young adult says, ‘I have to look them up on the Internet, never heard of them.” The funniest contribution to the dialogue came out of the mouth of one of the barbers. He said, “You know you’re old when a man who is very visibly balding in the back of his head takes a seat in the chair and ask for a bald fade haircut.” These are just some of the statements that filled the barbershop with laughter.
While the laughter was still going on, seemingly loud enough to be heard across the street, the oldest gentleman in the barbershop said, “Brothers, y’all failed to mention the number one sign that tells you that you know you’re old?” He goes on and says, “Let me explain what I just said and suggests that y’all change the opening part of your statements a little bit.” Then he goes on to say, “Rather than saying, ‘You know you’re old when,’ say, ‘You know you are OLDER when…’” He goes on to elaborate on “when.” “When the Lord wakes you up in the morning! When the Lord blesses you to see a new day that you have never seen before! When, as folks older than me said, when you waken up your bed is not your cooling board. When you are able to take one more breath! That’s “When” you know you are OLDER!” Silence fills the room for a few seconds, and then one barber says, “Amen sir!”
Think about what the oldest gentlemen said and then praise God for giving you one more day! Be blessed!
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King