This picture of a “rotten lemon” was shared by my daughter and I was puzzled as to why she was sharing it. I called her to inquire further.
“Mom, that is a piece of _ artwork. The artist’s works sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Again, ignorant me replied, “what; what’s it about that lemon?”
“Use your magnifier to look again.” [ Digress ] There must be a reason art connoisseurs use magnifiers when viewing a piece of art? Right? [ Segue ]. “Those “rotten” things are actually pieces of pearls all around the lemon.” “Wow!” That caught my clueless-in-Seattle attention. She went on to explain further sharing the artist’s perspectives that old people are often seen as wrinkly, frail, and as having outlived their usefulness when in fact they ought to be perceived as pearls of precious jewels, wisdom, experiences, value, insights, foresights, hindsights, and more.

This is worth sharing especially as I turn 60 today!

Hooray and happy birthday to me! I have been pondering on the age and milestone since the beginning of the year. Tons of thoughts run through my mind. Tons, tons, and tons. Where do I start?

With the lemon artwork, I pondered whether I am perceived as having outlived my life’s usefulness as in the workforce where age discrimination still exists, but no employer would admit it, and older workers are bypassed for promotion. To that, I say, it is the workplace’s loss, not the older workers who have years of experience under their belts that would benefit the company.

But there are those, who, however, recognize the value of the elderly as pearls and want to glean from all the combined years of their life experiences and take them on as mentors, consultants, and/or coaches. These are the wise ones for their profitability will directly correlate to their view of the elder.

In essence, not everyone will accept everyone, but someone somewhere will always appreciate and value someone.

not everyone will accept everyone, but someone somewhere will always appreciate and value someone.

ThinkTalk

It is a great thing to be valued by man, but personally, God’s value is the greatest. It is Him who can open the eyes to allow one to see the value of another. As for me, it matters not whether I am viewed as old and useless or wise and valuable. If the former, it simply means that we were not meant to be relatable and that’s totally fine.

I thank God for six decades of life.

I thank God for six decades of life. That’s a loaded statement that I do not take for granted. I recognize that it is by His Grace and mercy that I am here today. And by His Grace and mercy that I will continue to live. In Him I live, and move, and have my being.

Regarding the artwork referenced above, you can check the artist’s works out here. I’ll love to own a piece of those fruits-work. Maybe someone somewhere might surprise me with the birthday present. 😘 You will indeed have made my day.