A Prayer about Aging Beautifully

And there was a prophetess, Anna…advanced in years….She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36-38

God of the Ages,

Our world’s narrative teaches us to war against aging, 

fighting it with wrinkle creams and hair dye and trendy diets. 

As we stand in the grocery line, 

we might conclude that there’s nothing worse than getting old. 

Scripture tells a different story about aging—

showing us how to age beautifully:

Scripture tells stories of women like Anna, 

widowed after only seven years of marriage, 

who now at either 80-something or 100-something 

spends her life worshiping, fasting, and praying. 

You gifted her to speak for you as a prophetess. 

You gifted her the instant recognition 

of the infant Jesus as the Redeemer 

whom all Israel had awaited. 

When she sees Jesus, 

she thanks you and begins to tell everyone about you. 

Lord, spare us our culture’s dread of aging; 

shape us into old people like Anna, 

maybe a little wrinkled and dried up in body, 

but energized and liberated 

with the joy of sharing the good news about you.

In Jesus’ ageless name. Amen.  

Read Luke 2:36-38.