If You Are Among the Very Young At Heart

Recently a local music station recognized the anniversary of the death of Frank Sinatra in 1998 by playing his music almost exclusively that day.
This reminded me of an article I wrote shortly after his death. Here is the article:

Frank Sinatra is dead at age 82. With his passing, his recorded music is selling even faster than before.

I can recall how, during the days when Sinatra’s songs were the most popular, my father would sing and hum to himself one that Frank made famous - “Young At Heart”. It seemed that no matter what song my father would begin with, he always drifted into “Young At Heart”. The lyrics have always stuck in my mind:

Fairy tales can come true; it can happen to you - if you’re young at heart.

For it’s hard you will find to be narrow of mind - if you’re young at heart.

You can go to extremes with impossible dreams;

You can laugh when you’re dreams fall apart at the seams.

And life gets more exciting with each passing day;

And love is either in your heart or on its way.

Don’t you know that it’s worth any treasure on earth - to be young at heart?

For as rich as you are, it’s much better by far - to be young at heart.

And if you should survive to a hundred and five,

Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive!

And here is the best part: you have a head start -

If you are among the very YOUNG AT HEART.

My father just liked the song for whatever reason. We all have favorite songs that just keep coming back to us.

With the death of Sinatra, I got out one of his old 33 1/3 rpm vinyl records in my collection, and there was “Young At Heart”! As I listened and thought about my father who died many years ago, the words of the song began to take on new meaning to me.


Christians are ALL “young at heart”. What do I mean by that? As we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, a death of our “old man” takes place and we instantly become a “new man” in union with Christ.
No matter how old we were before conversion and new birth, we become “young” spiritually. As a Christian, you now have eternal life, so no matter your earthly age, you are actually “young” - you are “young at heart”. “A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you...” (Ezekiel 36:26).

What many consider a “fairy tale”, the biblical Word of God, not only CAN but DOES come true for you as a Christian.

With the mind of Christ to draw on, it IS hard to be narrow of mind.

And, oh yes, those Christian “dreams” and desires! Some may at first seem impossible, but trust in Christ CAN bring fulfillment.

And, if you don’t find fulfillment of a particular “dream”, you CAN still laugh at yourself knowing that Christ works everything for good - even when things seem to be “falling apart at the seams.”

Life DOES get more exciting every passing day as you draw nearer in fellowship and understanding with God.

The love of Christ is either sensed between the two of you in your heart, or His love is on its way out to others through you.

What the world calls “treasures on earth” have no comparison to the treasure of knowing you are a true child of God for eternity - a member of God’s own Family. You are “rich” beyond measure.

Look at all you’ll derive out of being alive and used by God through Christ to reach out to your own little world - no matter your earthly age!

And here is the best part: you have a HEAD start - Christ is your HEAD, your guide, your trustworthy leader. Those who have not found Christ are stalled in the race of life, but YOU are on a flying start!

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, FRANK!

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