A is for age

The ladies of Cranford - BBC mini series "Cranford"
I have decided to work my way through the alphabet and write about a different topic for each letter.  I thought it would be fun and encourage me to write about topics I might not normally write about.  So to start . . . 

A is for AGE.

I have just finished watching Cranford and Return to Cranford, two wonderful mini series based on the books of Elizabeth Gaskell. This series isn't for everyone . . . it is quiet, slow and peaceful . . . it is quite enchanting with a few tear and tissues.  But the most striking thing about this series is the cast of women . . . most of the women are older.  It isn't often that I watch a film where the main characters are over the age of 70.  In an era where age is tucked away in the corner and not allow to come out, where women are encouraged to buy potions to look younger or iron out their wrinkles, where people don't even notice the elderly and won't give up their seats for them on the bus, where age is not spoken about . . . it is a joy to watch a series about older women behaving like older women, such a nice change from watching silly young skinny girls in Hollywood movies. 

Miss Pole and Mrs Forest in "Return to Cranford"

Back in the days when this film was set, age was looked upon quite differently . . . today we are afraid of getting old and according to a report from IBISWorld (link), Australians will spend an estimated $6,990 million this financial year on their personal appearance, up from the $5,880 million spent in 2010-11. That is a lot of money to avoid looking our age and attempting to cover up all those imperfections! Age is considered with such disdain, people are willing to go extreme in their attempt to stop the process . . . which of course they can't stop.

I don't really want to get old, but it will happen and I can't stop it, but whilst I age, I would like to enjoy life, smile as much as possible, laugh every day, love my family, encourage and make others happy. I don't want to spend abhorrent amounts of money in a battle that I won't win to try and turn back time. 


The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:3-5
The ladies of Cranford leaving church from "Return to Cranford"

Comments

  1. Hello Jo~ It's been a while since we watched that series, but we all loved it...even Mr. Santos and the children. A very unique show.

    It is hard getting older. I will be forty this year and I have been wondering if I should color my hair. I have a twin sister who is very hip and cool - she colors her hair. When we are together, I feel like I look old. But also, I prefer my age today than any of my younger days - mostly because my confidence in the Lord is so much greater now.

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  2. I have not seen this series yet but I will be looking out for it. I love this type of movie. I do not spend a lot on beauty products but have signed up to a women's gym this year to try to become healthier.
    I love the thought of working your way through the alphabet, I am often puzzled about what I should write about.
    Thank you for this lovely post.
    Blessings to you
    NEll

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  3. I wouldn't be young again for anything! Ok, so I'd prefer my body didn't ache so much but I'd rathe rthat than all the angst & insecurities of being younger. Any. Day.

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  4. I won't be spending any of that on beauty products - I see no point to it (I already have gray hairs despite my "young" age)... The Bible makes aging sound like a good thing rather than a bad thing, and I think we can learn from that. The Bible makes it sound like wisdom comes with old age, and the Bible (esp Proverbs) is full of wisdom and its virtues. I guess the thing to do is to make sure we gain wisdom as we age!
    The Cranford series sounds interesting - and very different from popular shows/movies etc!

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  5. I loved this series too! Happy New Year and looking forward to catching up on some of what I missed while on holidays:)

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  6. I have not seen that series so I will note it.
    Character, wisdom, strength of conviction. These are all hard won traits but as you say, not highly esteemed in our day. It is good to look at ourselves from a biblical viewpoint as we contemplate those lines and creases in the mirror each day.
    Look forward to the rest of the alphabet, Jo.

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  7. Ganeida - I completely lacked confidences as a girl, so, no thanks for being a teenager again. And I strongly disliked school so would never want to do that either. I quite like the age I am now - somewhere in the middle, neither old nor young!!

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  8. Clara - I will put it in the post soon for you - you will love it I am sure.

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  9. Jo, thanks for this great post. I enjoyed watching some of the Cranford series too. :-) Quite interesting.

    I have struggled with aging myself, though I don't feel particularly pressed to do much to keep looking younger. My desire is to grow old gracefully, but I do struggle with aging, especially around my birthdays. I think it's because of the fear of losing things - my parents, my health, my strength, etc.

    Awhile back I wrote an article about the idea that we'll be eternally young in heaven. I concluded that we may instead be "ancient" but still strong and vigorous. If you're interested, you can read it here: http://www.homemakerscorner.com/biblest-aged.htm

    It is a sad thing that age is not respected in our cultures as it once was. It's also disappointing to see older women (and men) who are determined to keep looking and acting like teenagers or twenty-somethings. I don't want to be a teenager again; I had way too many struggles to want to go back to that! I also appreciate the wisdom and help that older women have been to me.

    Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

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    Replies
    1. I look at my elderly mother and all her health struggles and I am completely put off getting older. Every day is so hard for her and her quality of life is so poor, I find it very sad to look at a once independent woman and see someone in her older years finding life so hard.

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