I’ve always assumed that as Christians, when we grow in age, we also grow in grace. Lots of recent empirical evidence contradicts this notion this very strongly. Throwing aside this fundamental assumption really throws into question for me the nature of spiritual growth. Will I be mean when I’m older? Is this why people stick their older relatives in care facilities and never visit them? Is living long really a blessing, or just one long chance to be bitter? I’ve never had so many unpleasant conversations in the course of two months, and they’re all with people who are older than 65 or 70. I’m really not sure what to think about that.
Andrew: Growing old is not always easy – so many things begin to malfunction – however, being bitter is not really an answer – but old people are mistreated – put into facilities and forgotten. Memories are often all that is left and even that begins to fail – we can’t remember where we put things, our hearing gets worse every day making everyone impatient, our eyesight is only good when we wear our bifocals or even trifocals, our bladders leak making us smell and unpleasant to be near – and that is only part of the list. However, God’s blessing is always near and within easy reach – we have all the promises – the joy of children – the joy of grandchildren and great grand children. We ask and God sustains us, we knock and He blesses us and opens the door to sweet time spent with Him. I am aware of those forgotten ones and each day I thank Him for the family He has provided for me, not only close relatives, but church family, dear friends. It would be a perfect life if all could experience the joy and blessings that I receive each day. I will pray for those who are abandoned and not cared for and not loved. I will also pray for their caregivers in those forsaken places.
Thanks so much for your perspective, Grandma! As always, I appreciate the way you see things and the way you change how I see things. Reading your words, I’m filled with compassion and not despair. I inherit from you hope and not bitterness. Thank you, and I love you so much! I admire you and am very devoted to you. As an older adult, you merit nothing less than my respect and love.
Andrew,I loved reading this blog and your Grandma’s response. So true. I was reading today in Lev 19:32
32′ You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.
NASU
God equates our honoring of our elders as a way to honor Him! God help us as a Church and nation honor them and thus honor Him!
Rob