This picture of Bill and Betty Pritchett was taken in Nicaragua.

Longevity Secrets from the Life of Bill Pritchett

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV

Mom and Dad sang this verse so beautifully. It was more than a song – it was the way they lived.

Dad cared for Mom in her last years and then began the journey of nine more years without the companion and love of his life. I don’t remember exactly when he started calling himself “The Bounceback Kid.” Perhaps it was a spin-off of “Billy the Kid.”

Dad was resilient and no matter what happened he remained open and ready to find solutions. This was so apparent as he made the decision to live with my sister and her husband. It meant leaving his independent way of living and choosing to make the best of a new season. I spent a month with him as he came to terms with the possibilities for the future. He came to peace about it and knew it was God’s will.

I will never forget that as we backed out of his driveway for the last time, I asked him, “Well, Dad do you feel sad to leave your home?”

“Not really,” he replied. “It has been a great place to live but it really meant more to your Mother and she’s with the Lord now. I’m ready to go.”

He chose to adapt and was able to thrive in his new environment. In fact, he added new disciples and friends in his final days on this earth. He was so grateful for each person that came into his life that others felt honored to help and serve him.

Longevity Secret #17:

Embrace change and learn to be flexible with what comes your way. Be grateful for opportunities to grow and expand your circle of influence.

This post is part of the Write 31 Days 2019 challenge. Click here to find more longevity secrets.

Author, speaker, corporate trainer, ordained minister and Hope Catalyst, Karen Sebastian enjoys sharing her rich life experiences with others – engaging them in adventurous discoveries of the beauty of hope in a dark, cloudy world. Her books will inspire you to embrace hope no matter what you are going through. As a caregiver and widow she took brave steps forward to fulfill God’s calling on her life. She has now remarried and enjoys her new hubby and spending time with their children and grandchildren. To increase hope and improve relationships with yourself and those that you love, check out her Facebook page – The Power of Hope.