Aging Gratefully: A 30-Day Devotional for Women

by Heather Creekmore

Frustrated with getting older? Experiencing a midlife crisis? Or maybe you’re just tired of forgetting where you put your keys. 
 
For women ages 45 to 65, Aging Gratefully offers humorous encouragement and sincere hope for your stage of life. This isn’t a self-help book that will tell you how to look younger with the right cream or find more energy in 3 easy steps. Instead, it will show you how to view your life with purpose and build on the wisdom you’ve learned by God’s grace.
 
In 30 devotional readings, popular author Heather Creekmore points you each day to something you have to be thankful for in your current season. She guides you in prayer, giving words to your practice of gratitude, and then gets you moving to put your thanksgiving into action. With chapter titles like “Zippers, Snaps, and Other Annoyances” and “Why Did I Pick Up My Phone?,” you'll find reasons to laugh out loud, reminders to live abundantly, and a solid rationale for why aging and grateful really do belong together.
 

Genres: Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Speaker, blogger, author, and television failed baker, Heather Creekmore will charm you with her humor and touch you with her heart for reaching women with the breath-taking truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A veteran of the fitness industry and wife of a pastor/church planter, Heather feels the pulse of women who wrestle with their body image and comparison. She's tried the diets, exercise gizmos (owning both a Thighmaster and a Total Gym), and expensive weight loss pills. She's battled the brownies, felt shame over pant's size, and fought that same sense of insecurity that plagues so many women.

Before marriage and four babies in five years, Heather worked in politics and non-profit management. Heather recently competed on Netflix's new reality bake-fails show, "Nailed It" (Season 1, episode 1). When's she's not destroying baked goods, Heather homeschools her brood of four children, shops clearance racks, and travels. Learn more about Heather and follow her blog at www.Comparedtowho.me.

Reviews

[*ੈ✩‧₊˚Sassy Little Hippy˚₊‧✩ ੈ* · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
The 30 Day Devotional is geared for women aged 40 and finer, serving as a gentle reminder to slow down and be intentional with their life. This takes a religious perspective, offering scripture from the Bible, metaphors, personal experiences, a prayer and a recommendation for incorporating the lesson into your life intentionally. Overall it has a great message of giving ourselves more grace and reminding us of our value when so many feel unworthy after we hit a certain age.

Example: Chapter 1 is about The Secret to Flourishing After 40 ~ How to Praise as We Age. It starts out with a passage from Psalm, and then the author describes her experience maturing in Christ to stand tall through storms, and ties it back to lessons from the scripture. She ends it with a short prayer and some recommendations on how to be mindful about praise each and every day.

Each devotional is between 4 and 4.5 pages, and took me roughly 3 minutes to read. Most of the devotions have a small space at the end that could be used to write some thoughts, but not all, and for that reason I knock off a 1/2 star, as I like to reflect and take notes on my own memories.

Reading about the author’s personal stories helps give the feeling of a mini Bible study session with a girlfriend, which is kind of nice. I can think of several friends that might enjoy a hard copy of this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Our Daily Bread Publishing and Heather Creekmore for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this devotion about aging. As we age, our minds and thoughts are not the same as it was years ago. Our focus needs to continue to be on the Lord and spreading his love and salvation to the world.

[Lisa Horne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Great book! Will reread!

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aging Gratefully, A 30-Day Devotional for Women is a Christian devotion written by author Heather Creekmore. This 168 page book targets mature women aged forty and above. I am a baby-boomer so I fall within that bracket, and I really loved this.

This lovely devotional is filled with scriptures, prayers, and ideas for how to apply the lessons to daily life. Each daily message is around four pages, which makes it easy to accomplish. The author writes openly with honesty about her life. It is personal and like chatting with a friend over coffee or tea.

I know this is a devotional that I will keep on my shelf and revisit from time to time. It was refreshing to read and study what the Bible says about aging gratefully. I highly recommend it. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley but these are my honest words. #AgingGratefully #NetGalley

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christmas I find a newly published book devotional to share with friends. This year it will be Aging Gratefully. It is another devotional by Our Daily Bread for women that speaks truth into each day.
Heather Creekmore is a coach to woman about accepting themselves. Aging Gratefully is a non-judgmental 30 daily devotional that is for those over 40. It is traditional devotion style with a verse to start each day and the Creekmore's essay about how to age with eyes on Christ, not the world's thoughts on age. She encourages us that while it's important to keep the body healthy, it's more important to see how God wants to still use us.
I think all Christian women in this age group will be encouraged by these daily reminders.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Our Daily Bread and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of thirty daily devotionals on the topic of living life fully while getting older. Each entry provides a reflection, generally with some biblical or religious context, that touches on the author’s topic. For example, the first entry uses the metaphor of a tree to talk about growth, roots, the ways in which time may make things stronger and so on. It ends with a prayer and a suggestion of something to do-in this case to find ways to praise God. The next entry is about keeping track of the years but also the days and cherishing the present. Again, it ends with a prayer and a suggestion.

For a person who is not religious, the reflections may well still have meaning in terms of thinking of one’s life and how to live mindfully. This title can be read in any order. Each entry will take a few minutes of a person’s day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Our Daily Bread Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book and I loved it! The insights are truly meaningful and can impact your life. It talks about not just growing old gracefully, which we often hear, but aging gratefully. There is a significant difference. Instead of focusing on hiding wrinkles, there is focus on being able to have more opportunities to grow more like Christ, which is the ultimate beauty. " "But what if the best way to be more beautiful in midlife is to take the focus off ourselves and serve others, like Jesus did?" We are reminded that in this season as we grow older, it is important to cling to the fact that as we have to say good-byes, the peace and presence of our Savior is promised. We are upheld by God's righteous right hand. My mind finds it helpful to think on these things in order to resist other opposing cultural influences. Obviously, this book is worth keeping and reviewing!
I appreciate the publishers allowing me to read this book. The views expressed are my own.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the past month I have looked forward to spending a few moments each day reading one of the devotional passages in Aging Gratefully. The author has put a positive spin on the various issues we face in middle age and beyond. I especially appreciated the way she incorporated personal anecdotes as well as the humorous chapter titles. Thanks to NetGalley, Our Daily Bread Publishing and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Aging Gratefully, A 30-Day Devotional for Women, author Heather Creekmore writes about the importance of living gratefully. This devotional is geared towards women over 40. Approximately four pages are devoted to each daily devotion. The devotions focus on living life to the fullest as we age. The daily devotion consists of a reflection, a story/lesson, and a prayer to help you apply the daily devotion.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been struggling a bit with the idea of aging so this was the ideal book to read. It helped me change my thinking from just "aging gracefully" to "aging gratefully." The daily readings are short, informative, and engaging. This favorite quote nicely sums up the book: "The older we get, the more opportunity we have to grow to look more like Jesus. Feelings of frumpiness flee when Christlikeness becomes our goal." I highly recommend this devotional book.

[Dione Hanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be inspired by this 30 day devotional

This book includes devotionals that encourage us as we age. Aging can really be negative if we are not careful. Everyone needs encouragement and support and this book will provide that for you. So you can go thru the days in order and then later, when you are down just read the day that you need. There is scripture and a prayer each day.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Heather Creekmore's books. She does a great job of tackling some of the thinking that we embrace as Christians that just doesn't line up with Scripture. She is scriptural and so easy to read. Now this is a devotional, so if you come into it expecting regular sized chapters, you will be disappointed.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

These 30 devotional readings gave me much-needed encouragement, with authenticity and humor, about living as a fully grateful seasoned woman of God. Highly recommended for those of us who struggle with aging and living with gratitude while making the last chapter in our lives more fruitful. A must-read!

[Holly Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile, you come across a really great devotional that truly speaks to the season of life you are in! I loved this 30 day treat packed with spiritual truths for women who find themselves beginning, or in, the middle aged part of life. Highly recommend! #aginggratefully #heathercreekmore #netgalley #goodreads

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one passes through the seasons of one's life if God is first and foremost He will be there to see us through. Aging is about gaining wisdom and insight and should not focus on the negative aspect of decline but of a moving forward toward see the fruition of our lives and the homecoming with our Lord. "Well done, good and faithful servant." Jesus

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is ok, it’s a devotional dedicated to older woman but to me anyone can read it.

It still talks about purpose and all the other themes in most devotionals.

Unfortunately for me nothing made this one stand out.

Thank you Net galley for an arc for my honest opinion.

[Jenn Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good devotional for those in their 50's on up. It helps you really reflect on both the harsh realities of aging and God's goodness in the middle of it.

[Lori Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was humorously true, biblically-based, hope-filled, and powerful. I plan to give every one of my friends a copy for their next birthday.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good. But not really for older women. More for middle aged forty to fifty somethings. A lot of it was irrelevant to me.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent devotional. I will reread it often.

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lively devotional for folks entering the second half of life.

[Becky W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect read for this birthday girl. Highly recommended to make you grateful of all the good in aging.

[Beth Withers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed a lot of this 30 day devotional, but the audience for the book is about 10 to 15 years younger than I am.

[Cheri (Waggoner) Olerich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this devotional… each day presented something to be grateful for. Highly recommend for any woman 50+

[Carol Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable daily devotion book. I realize it’s intended for someone much younger than I, however, I still found it thoughtful provoking.

[Quinn Fforde · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to find books for middle-aged people that aren't focused on retirement and career changes. That doesn't apply to me, and I think that it ignores the rest of the person. I was pleased to see that this book is focused more on how we view God, the world, and ourselves as we age and change. I feel that this book would apply to most women. I have really enjoyed reading it.