Date: 2005-07-17
To: Encouragement
Miles today: 0.0

I am so ready for next spring to get here but then again I have had these negative thoughts about not completing what I have set out to do. Today I received this email from a friend with this story in it and was very encouraged. So I thought I would share it in my journals for anyone to read and in hopes that it will encourage someone else too.Subject: I LIKE THIS STORY The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look aroundwhen a gentle hand touched my shoulder.I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up atme with a smile that lit up her entire being.She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose.I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze."Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, andhave a couple of kids...""No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated herto be taking on this challenge at her age."I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm gettingone!" she told me.After class we walked to the student union building and shared achocolate milkshake.We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon herfrom the other students. She was living it up.At! the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our footballbanquet.I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped herthree by five cards on the floor.Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone andsimply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and thiswhiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let mejust tell you what I know." (this cracked me up!)As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playingbecause we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achievingsuccess. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got tohave a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't evenknow it!There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year anddon't doone productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eight-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turneighty-eight.Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather forthings we did not do. The only people who fear death are those withregrets."She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out inour daily lives.At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begunall those years ago.One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be allyou can possibly be.REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.