Sharing Life
What She Said - Part 6
Sharon W. Betters
Today’s Treasure
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17
Dear Friends,
Do you have friends who rarely if ever tell you no when you ask them to step outside of their comfort zone? In our book, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, Susan Hunt and I include a brief story at the end of each chapter, written by a woman between the ages of 70 and 90. Every woman we asked took a deep breath and said yes. We then asked them to participate in a video series called Ask an Older Woman where each woman answers a question about aging in five minutes or less. But that was not all. Several of these older women agreed to be guests on the Help & Hope podcast where we had extended conversations about aging. I began to start each of my emails to these women with the words, “Here I am with my hand out again.”
Sherry Bitler is one of those women who said yes to every request. And then she even agreed to write another week of Daily Treasure devotionals. Our culture diminishes the value of the wisdom of older women and portrays aging as bad. The past few years of not only studying the Lord’s perspective on aging but working with these amazing older women who said yes to each request paints a different picture. In each woman, I see fulfillment of the promises of Psalm 92. When we are planted in the house of the Lord, we will flourish. We will be ever growing, ever green, and bear fruit even in old age.
Sherry and I have been friends for over twenty-five years. From the very beginning, Sherry has modeled the ministry of biblical encouragement. She not only loves me at all times but our friendship was born for those times of adversity. Shortly after the death of our son Mark, she encouraged me to keep on writing the book Treasures of Encouragement when it felt impossible to continue. She sent me a page from a Christian book seller’s catalogue. Where she had circled several books written by women and added a note, “One day your book will be listed in this catalog.”
Sherry’s love for Jesus and heart’s desire to reflect Him in her everyday life shines brightly, even when circumstances beyond her control took her down paths she would never have chosen. Hers is a life well-lived and I’m so grateful she is willing to share some of the treasures God has given to her along the way. And, I look forward to more opportunities to share life with Sherry as we walk toward heaven together.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Learn more from Sherry –
Help & Hope Story: Multiple Sclerosis: When M.S. is Your Constant Companion
Ask an Older Woman - What two disciplines helped prepare you for this season of life?
Go to agingwithgrace.online for more Ask an Older Woman videos and information about Aging with Grace - Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture.
Are there other women in your life who could benefit from a daily dose of encouragement? Forward this email so they can click on this link to Subscribe to Daily Treasure to be better equipped to walk by faith on the pathway God has marked out for them.
Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, co-author of Treasures of Faith. and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non-profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.