Because: Turning the Page to 2026: Phil Amerson on Aging, Gratefulness, and Change
In this special "Because" episode of “To Be and Do,” Phil Amerson welcomes listeners to a celebration that is both personal and universal—the turning of a new year and a milestone birthday. As we prepare to step into 2026, Phil Amerson invites us into his story, reflecting on the sweep of time and the power of gratitude as he marks the beginning of his ninth decade on earth.
Born on January 1st, 1946, at the dawn of a new year and a new era, Phil Amerson shares a charming and vivid account of his arrival. He recalls icy roads in Indiana, the challenge of being born in a different county than where his family lived, and the community dynamics that resulted—stories rich with nostalgia and warmth. It’s a tale that underscores the uniqueness of each birthday and reminds us of how family, history, and place are intertwined.
But this episode is far more than a stroll down memory lane. Phil Amerson turns his own story into a reflection on gratitude, wisdom, and the passage of time. He mentions receiving a book for Christmas and his birthday, “It’s Taken Years to Get This Old,” which serves as a springboard for a deeper meditation on aging, appreciating each day, and the biblical wisdom of numbering our days.
Takeaways from this Episode:
- Celebrate Your Own Story: Birthdays and the New Year are powerful moments to pause and reflect on our own journeys.
- Phil Amerson
- ’s story encourages listeners to honor where you come from and the path you’ve traveled.
- Gratitude for Each Day: The reminder to “live every day as if it is a great gift” asks us to adopt a posture of gratitude, seeing each moment as a present to be cherished.
- Wisdom from Time: Citing Psalms,
- Phil Amerson
- emphasizes the importance of numbering our days, recognizing that reflection on time can deepen our wisdom and appreciation.
- Change and Adaptation: The episode reflects on how much the world—and our lives within it—change across decades, urging us to embrace adaptation while treasuring our memories.
- Blessing for the Year Ahead: With warmth and kindness,
- Phil Amerson
- ends with a heartfelt blessing for listeners as we move into the new year.
Whether you’re marking a milestone or simply closing another chapter, this episode offers timeless insights on living fully, aging with grace, and finding wisdom in each passing year.
Phil Amerson [00:00:01]:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as we come to the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. I know it will be hard for you to believe this, but on January 1st, I will begin my ninth decade on the earth. Yep, I was born January 1st, 1946. Now some people say, well, did you get the award for being the firstborn baby? And the sad TR story is I lived in one county but was born in another. And so I didn't win in Harrison County, Indiana, where my father and mom were living. He was a pastor of a two point charge Woods Chapel in Ramsey. And I was born in Floyd county where New Albany is. So my parents tell me they made that trip from, from Ramsey, Indiana to New Albany, 25 miles or so down icy roads, early one January 1st day, 1946.
Phil Amerson [00:01:08]:
Think about it. The war, World War II, had only ended four months or so earlier. People were still struggling with ration coupons and the difficulties of folks returning from the battles. And for me, it was something I don't remember. And here's the irony. Six months after I was born and returned from New Albany to Ramsey, my father was moved to a church in New Albany. And so the good people in Ramsey Woods Chapel would grumble about, you know, Reverend Amorous Son. He left here for $100 more a year and indoor plumbing.
Phil Amerson [00:01:55]:
How the world has changed. How the world has changed. I had some friends recently who gave me a little Christmas birthday gift. It's a book entitled. It's taken years to get this old and it has for you wherever you are on your journey, your life's journey. I would point you to the importance of living every day as if it is a great gift, a present from God to you. And I think of those passages in Psalms 90 or Psalm 92 where there's that great theme. Teach us to number our days so that we may receive or may gain a heart of wisdom.
Phil Amerson [00:02:47]:
That's it. This is the because episode for the turning of a New Year to 2026. May God bless you as you enter these new days. Bye bye.
