AGE
What is age? Is it a number of years? Is it a trial that causes us to age because of stress or worrying? Is it a period in history? Is it something in the future or is it now? If a person is younger, aging seems a long way off. But if you are in your forty, fifty or sixties, you realize it is coming soon. What if you are over sixty, you realize that you are a part of the aged. I know there have many struggles I have gone through, that have caused me to feel old because of the stress and worry. When I start to look back in my life, by looking at pictures or just contemplating my past history, I realize that there are so many things and people who have influenced my life. At my age, sixtyish, I realize that those who have influenced my life are getting aged and passing away.
I remember when we were planning my grandmothers 100th birthday party, that I was talking to her about it and thinking how exciting it will be to celebrate. I told her that we could invite all of her friends. I remember that she said, “they have all passed away.” I felt all of a sudden how sad that was, but true. Unfortunately, she passed away two months before her hundredth birthday.
My uncle passed away about a year ago. One of the last times, I was able to be with him, he was telling me how useless he felt at times. He had such an amazing knowledge of the bible and lived his life by God’s word. He had taught many bible classes-preached many a sermon-was an elder of the church, he attended, for many years-he was a mentor for so many who became Christians and turned their lives around to serve God. I asked him what he meant? He had stepped down from being an elder several years ago. He said the church, he was attending, did not use him to preach, lead singing anymore, or teach a bible class. He felt that need, that longing of the heart, to continue those activities. I remember when he told me that, I felt how sad. Here was a man who had been a Christian for many, many years, who the congregation there was not utilizing as a source of wisdom! Job 12:12-13 reads, “Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days understanding. With Him are wisdom and strength. He has counsel and understanding.” Psalm 92:14-15 reads, “They shall still bear fruit in old age, they shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that the Lord is upright, He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” The congregation certainly lost so much by not using him in their services.
The bible has so many verses about the reality of being aged. Let’s look at a few and what I see in them.
Psalm 71:9 and 17-18 “Do not cast me off in the time of old age, do not forsake me when my strength fails.” and “O God, You have taught me from my youth and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me. Until I declare Your strength to this generation. Your power to everyone who is to come.”
The Psalmist in these verses, is asking God to not forget him in his old age. Verse 9, makes me think of all the elderly who, because of the pandemic, have been confined to their home. I had an elderly friend who said she had not been to church for so long that she felt like the members had forgotten who she was. I thought about that from my perspective. That means some of the elderly, in my congregation, had not received a card, been taken meals, or called on the telephone or sent texts. We have several new families at church. Have I been talking about our elderly who cannot come to church or those who have been battling illness, so they can reach out to these members in love and learn so much from them?
Psalm 78:1-4 talking to the Israelites, “Give ear, o my people, to my law. Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark saying of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling in the generation to come, the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”
When I read these verses, I thought of my grandson, Austin. He seems to always listen to me about family members. I try to make my grandparents and those loved ones, who have gone before me, real in my grandchildren’s minds. There are so many stories that they need to know about. When a person does one of those ancestry searches, we reveal those of old, who helped carve us into who we are today. Am I sharing my faith? Am I teaching my grandkids the truly important things in life are not things, but living their lives for God?
Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them, While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened and the clouds do not return after the rain. In the day when the keepers in the house tremble, and the strong men bow down. When the grinders cease because they are few. And those that look through the windows grow dim. When the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low. When one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low, also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way, when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails, for man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets.”
These verses I laugh at because I can identify with so many things listed. Think about your elderly family members. Vision has gotten worse-hearing is going and we have to talk loud for them to hear-teeth have to be replaced, with dentures-they get up early-cannot pick up and carry heavy items-they are lonely and sometimes depressed. This is a natural progression of aging. Even those who are young, and feel indispensable, will one day succumb to the aging process.
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This verse helps me to remember that I have the God given, command to take care of my dad. (My mother passed away several years ago.) I have the command to take care of those of my family that are at the age when they cannot take care of themselves like they use to. It is hard for me, at times, to realize that my dad cannot do what he used to. Of course, I see the aging process in him, but he is my dad. He has always been my hero-the one I have reached out to for help. But I need to get past that thinking and realize that he needs me now. He will always be my hero, even though the aging process is grabbing hold of him. I believe my kids, will take care of me when that time comes. (My kids are reading this and are saying, you are already there, mom!)
Let’s realize that now is the time that we need to reach out to and take care of, our family members and our church family members. At church, during the announcements, you hear the list of elderly or sick, and do not know who they are, now is the time to take care of that. Ask another member who can give you a good history about them. Call them. Take them a meal. You don’t have to go into their home, because of covid, to drop off a meal-flowers-activity books or puzzles. Ask someone to go with you. Send them a card. Take that first step. Think about how you would feel if you were confined at home because of illness or age. Thinking about that will help your heart know what to do for them. Do something! Depression and loneliness fill the heart of those elderly and constantly sick. We say, ‘it seems like the day is too short. We have so much to take care of and do’. Take time out of your busy lives. You will be rewarded by using your time to help them. Give of your time!
If you are young reading this, remember to visit and call or text, and check on your grandparents or parents. It is hard having a mate or houseful of children, and then one day you are all alone because they have gone on with their lives and they seem to push you out. It seems that you have become so less important.
Do you have a parent, older friend or grandparent? Give them a call-email-text-send a card. Just do something! We are never assured of tomorrow. One night, many years ago, I realized I had not talked to my great aunt in a while. I started to call her and something got in the way that I forgot to call. By the time I remembered, it was too late to call her. She passed away the next day. That has hurt my heart for many years that I did not reach out to her that night. We all have regrets. The best way to not hold onto those regrets, is to learn from them and do better every day.
Remember, just because someone becomes elderly, does not mean that he is not knowledgeable-that they can be pushed to the side like my uncle was. Make an effort today, after reading this blog, to step up and reach out to an elderly person. Become their friend! When you do that, your heart will be so much richer for doing so!
Age! An important thing to start thinking about and to start giving of your time to reach out to the aged. You will become a part of that crowd one day too.
Till next time!
Keela
