These are searching, uplifting and encouraging prayers, each with an accompanying Bible reference; an honest expression of daily faith and life, addressing insecurity, fears for the future, retirement, health, changing role and status.

They speak of a surprising God who hasn’t finished with us because of a few grey hairs and wrinkles. There’s no retirement home with God, simply different plans and new ways of being, always plenty in store. Abundant living certainly doesn’t grind to a halt in later years and ‘on the scrapheap’ will never feature in God’s vocabulary.

So, dismiss the notion that it’s all downhill from here. We are all beautiful in God’s sight, accepted, loved totally and unconditionally, and he delights in us.