The changing seasons here in Michigan can be absolutely stunning. The vivid hues of autumn that adorn the landscape are a glorious sight. During spring and summer, the color in the leaves is not visible because of the presence of chlorophyll. But in those last weeks before winter, the green fades and the hidden color is revealed.

We often think of the springtime of youth as the most beautiful time of life. The body is strong, the mind is sharp, and there's an insatiable desire to learn. Yet the sixties, seventies, and eighties are even more beautiful-- that is, for those who are "found in the way of righteousness" (Prov. 16:31).

In his book The Best Is Yet To Be, Henry Durbanville tells about a woman who displayed so much charm and grace that others couldn't help but notice. One day a younger woman said to her, "I think you are perfectly beautiful!" The woman quietly replied, "I should be, my dear. After all, I'm 74 years old!"

So it is with those who know the Lord and have allowed Him to lead them throughout their lives. When we walk with God, the years have a way of refining us. The sufferings of a lifetime mellow us and reveal what we really are in Christ. The later years are the beautiful years!  — Richard De Haan