Can I get it all in by the time they are 18?

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Bob Vollmer was 45 years old when he started to work for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Since then he has tramped around state property as a land surveyor. Now he is about to retire from a career that has lasted almost six decades. Bob Vollmer is 102.

As he prepares to retire, Vollmer is thinking multi-generationally, both forward and backwards. He is planning projects to do for his great-grandchildren, and he is remembering his father’s teaching. In an interview, he said that he has always tried to follow something his father taught him growing up–to be sure and say thank you. I love that he has followed his dad’s teachings for over 100 years. Vollmer is also honoring his wife. He plans to retire on February 6, their wedding anniversary.

And, oh, yes, Bob Vollmer hopes to farm, read, travel to the South Pacific where he served in World War II, and maybe build himself a swimming pool.

Bob Vollmer is one of many people who have made mid-life career changes or who finally found their groove within their chosen career. I was surprised to learn last week that Eric Carle illustrated his first children’s book, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, at age 38. That’s the same age that Fred Rogers was when he began Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Ray and I know all about mid-life career changes. He was 47 when we decided to earn our daily bread together as a family by publishing homeschool curriculum.

Some people begin even later than mid-life. Remember Grandma Moses who began painting in her seventies. She was 76 when an art collector discovered her paintings.

Grandma Moses (right) donates one of her paintings to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Courtesy Library of Congress.

Mamas are prone to worry about how prepared their children are going to be by the time they reach 18. They are prone to worry a lot if, in their mid-twenties, their children are still needing extra time to figure out where they are headed with their life’s work. Those hits and misses in young adulthood just might be building blocks for a solid future.

Remember that you don’t have to pour into your children everything they will ever need by the time they are 18. God will have a lot more to teach them after that. You can count on Him.

As Paul told the church in Philippi:

For I am confident of this very thing,
that He who began a good work in you
will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6

I learned information in this post from these articles:

“Indiana man, 102, retires as its oldest state employee,” by Louis Casiano, Fox News

“Indiana’s Oldest State Worker is Retiring at 102,” by Colin Dwyer, NPR

“Indiana’s oldest state worker is retiring. He’s 102 years old,” by David Williams, CNN

 

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2 Comments

  1. Hello!
    I don’t usually leave comments, but I ALWAYS enjoy your encouragement.
    Please, let me encourage you that your labor is not in vain!
    With your daily encouragements, you live out the command to spur one another on to love and good works.
    THANK YOU 🙂
    Praise be to our LORD!
    …and God bless you.

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