Let’s Love Our Senior Citizens

Yesterday I had a free moment, so I decided to see what was new on Facebook.  As I was scrolling through, I came across a video of a man who was 91 years young.   This gentleman was leading a song in church, accompanied by a young man who appeared to be in his mid to late twenties. It was quite evident by their interaction that they had a mutual love for one another, and that they enjoyed performing together.   To see this older gentleman singing so passionately, and with so much enthusiasm brought my heart great joy.   He had a wonderful voice and amazingly he still had a great amount of control and strength in his voice.

It was obvious by his physical appearance that he was quite mature in age.   It was also obvious by the enthusiasm in his voice, and by his demeanor,  that he had a great zest for life.  I think part of the reason that I enjoyed the song so much, was that I could almost feel his energy just by watching him perform.   He sang as though he had lots more living to do.  He was not a sit on the porch, in a rocking chair until I die kind of guy.

I must say that the older I get, the more that I appreciate the senior citizens that still find excitement and joy in life. It is as though they give the rest of us something to look forward to.  I hear these seniors saying, don’t count me out yet,  and isn’t that what we all want?  Not to be counted out yet, but to simply be recognized, loved, respected, and to know that we matter.  This is what all humans want, no matter the age.    So if you are in your twenties, thirties, or even forties,  know that if you are blessed, you will be a senior citizen before you know it, so love your seniors the way you will want to be loved.

What I have also noticed as I have gotten older, is that I don’t feel like the number of birthdays that I have had. Although my outward appearance has changed quite a bit since my twenties and thirties, inside I still feel the same.  I still enjoy a great movie with a bag of popcorn of course or a big scoop of butter pecan ice cream. I still like to dance, and I love listening to jazz to wind me down after a long day.  I still enjoy taking trips and hanging out with friends.  I still like a great party and watching a great basketball or football game.  I love going to plays and I even like performing myself a bit.  I still have dreams and goals. I am saying all of this to say, that just as I still love doing many of the things that I enjoyed when I was much younger, our seniors still love doing fun things too.

So the next time you see a person who is very mature in age, don’t get stuck on the grey hair, the frame that has curved over, or the slowness of their stride, just know that you have more in common than not.   Treat them with the love, honor, and respect that they deserve. 
God has honored them with long life, therefore we should honor them too.

Leviticus 19:32
32 “‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.
Exodus 20:12
12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
1 Timothy 5:1-3
Never speak harshly to an older man,[a] but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.Take care of[b] any widow who has no one else to care for her.
Ephesians 6:2-3
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Proverbs 23:22
22 Listen to your father, who gave you life and don’t despise your mother when she is old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author

Write A Comment