It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot
In case you missed it, a San Antonio, Texas library had an overdue book returned – 82 years late.
The book came with a note stating, “Grandma won’t be able to pay for it anymore.” The book, “Your Child, His Family, and Friends,” was checked out in July 1943. The book was a guide for parents on helping their children navigate personal relationships.
The library said in a news release that it eliminated overdue fines in 2021. The inside cover of the book was stamped with the warning that the fine for overdue books was three cents a day. Not counting for inflation, the penalty would amount to nearly $900 today.
The book was found inside a box filled with other books that had been inherited by the person who sent it back. While it’s a great human interest story of returning the book 82 years past due, it also serves as another reminder for us: it’s never too late to do the right thing, become the person you were created to be, and dream new dreams.
Just in case you need to hear this, allow me to remind you that as long as you have breath in your lungs, God is not finished with you yet. It’s not too late. Here are a few examples of people who dared to believe that it was not too late for them or us.
“Grandma” Moses
Anna Moses loved to embroider, but when her fingers started to fail at the age of 78, she took up painting. Today, she is remembered as one of America’s great folk artists, who painted scene after scene of American rural life.
“Colonel” Harland Sanders
Harland Sanders worked a variety of odd jobs throughout his life, and watched his first attempt at a fried chicken restaurant fail at the age of 65. However, Sanders used his Social Security checks to start franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken, which has become the success it is today.
Henry Ford
In his youth, Ford worked for Thomas Edison, where he developed methods to improve the then-new automobile. It was not until he was 40 that he founded the Ford Motor Company, where he introduced the Model T five years later.
Richard Adams
While he worked as a British civil servant, Adams told his two daughters a story about a rabbit, who insisted that he write it down. After writing it down two years later, he published Watership Down, which instantly became a children’s literary classic.
Sam Walton
Sam Walton ran several stores and failed many times in the process. However, he learned from his failures and applied the lessons to open the first Walmart at 44, becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world.
The examples above are but a small sampling of well-known people who refused to believe that their story was over, given their age. Countless others have similar stories. What are some of the common denominators that these people share, and what takeaways can you apply? Here is what I see.
It’s never too late to dream
No matter your age, as long as there is a dream in you, you can attain it if you don’t give up. Dreams don’t come with expiration dates, just people who give up too soon. Dare to dream and dare to believe you can achieve it.
It’s never too late to fail and try again
The examples of these inspiring people remind us that success doesn’t come without a price and that price often is a string of failures on the road to success. It’s not about whether you will fail, but whether or not you will fail forward.
It’s never too late to believe that age is just a number
Would anyone have really blamed “Grandma” Moses at 78 for not taking up painting when her fingers were giving out? I don’t think so. But she believed in herself, as did countless others who saw their greatest contributions come later in life. The world needs your inspiration and example, and your greatest achievements are yet to come.
It’s never too late to start
As you read this, I simply don’t want you to be inspired. I want you to be challenged to believe that your story isn’t finished. I want you to be inspired to believe that the setbacks, failures, and challenges you have faced have not defeated you; they have helped define you. Your best and most productive days are not behind you; you’re just getting warmed up. Do you believe this?
It’s never too late!
©2025 Doug Dickerson
