Insight into when you are getting’ Too Old –
You are too old when you stop being a part of God’s Freedom Project ending slavery one life at a time.
Jim Burns
This articles is a take-off from a song written by Bill Carlisle, first released and recorded in 1951 by The Carlisles, and performed by Homer and Jethro, Ernest Tubb, Red Foley, Jerry Reed, the Sons of the Pioneers and many others, called “Too Old to Cut the Mustard.” Carlisle talked about getting old, and when he is getting too old to cut the mustard anymore.
Well on June 4, 2022, I turned 82 years old. On my 82nd birthday I officiated at vows renewal on a 25th anniversary for my stepdaughter and her husband, with two of my grandchildren looking on. I thought about how it was on their wedding day twenty-five years ago. I was a young 57-year-old back then. I had a lot of vim and vitality back then. I was producer of a large outdoor drama with more than a hundred cast and crew back then; had more irons in the fire than I could shake a stick at; I could work from can-to-can’t and keep going. Now, I work for five minutes and I have to stop and rest. I thought about Bill Carlisle’s little song, Too old, too old, too old to cut the mustard any more.
I’m too old, I’m gettin’ too old; I’ve done got too old. I’m too old to cut the mustard anymore. I can’t do many of the things I used to do with ease. I’m even having trouble getting up from a chair; my muscles are becoming stiff and I’m not flexible anymore.
Kinda like Bill, “When I was young, I had a lotta pep; I could get around, didn’t need no help. But now I’m getting’ old and gray; people all look at me and say, you’re just getting’ too old to cut the mustard anymore.
Yep, the old man is getting old; “He’s gettin’ too old, he’s done got too old, he’s too old to cut the mustard anymore. I used to could jump just like a deer, but now I need a new landing gear; I used to could jump a picket fence, but now I’m happy if I can jump an inch.
I’m having trouble admitting that I’m just gettin’ too old, too old. I’m gettin’ too old, I’ve done got too old. I’m having trouble admitting it. A few appointments a go my primary physician remined me that I am not 40 anymore; that a lot of my symptoms are related to my aging process. He reminded me that I should be thanking God for the way I can work at all when many of his patients far younger than I can’t do what you do. And I’m thankful every day for God’s goodness. I’m getting old, I’m too old to cut the mustard in a lot of ways I could do when I was younger, but praise God, I’m not too old to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in some small ways.
I’m too old to cut the mustard anymore, but I can still praise God and witness for Jesus. I’m too old to do a lot of things, but I’m not too old to love Jesus and share His love to others. I’m too old for a lot of things, but I’m not too old to allow the Holy Spirit to move in me and through me with healing in His wings and mighty miracles through the mighty name of Jesus.
A man can get too old for a lot of things, but he can never get too old to walk with Jesus, hand in hand, under His guidance, by the power of His Holy Spirit to share His healing love, forgiveness, and mercy by His marvelous grace. If one gets too old for that then you are too old.
How are you too old? You are too old when you stop being a part of God’s Freedom Project, ending slavery one life at a time. You are too old when you think you are too old to share Jesus with one who needs to know Him.
You can never get too old to follow Jesus, right up to the Pearly Gates, down the Streets of Gold, right up to the Throne of God and hear Him say, “Welcome home, my good and faithful servant, welcome home, my child!
JB031023