Old age should carry honour for faithfulness and wisdom, but there is also shame as life and body fall apart. Enemies gather like vultures to grab what they can. Looking back, one longs to ensure that the next generation knows the stories of God’s grace and power over a life redeemed.

In old age we reflect on our life with a mixture of highs and low but with a profound sense of thankfulness. King David did not enjoy a happy retirement. David sinned and brought down a great plague on his people. He ended his days bed-ridden and powerless with plots afoot. There were elements of...