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What My Grandma Taught Me Or, Why Young People Need To Be Around Older People
After spending nearly two weeks here in Arizona in the retirement trailer court, I’ve learned quite a few lessons I thought worth sharing.
*You can always look for animals in the cloud formations and in fact, this is quite a good use of time.
*Any day you can get out of bed and breathe, see, walk, hear, digest, and go somewhere is a good day.
*The weather is an interesting phenomenon and worthy of all the attention you wish to give it.
*Music is one of the chief pleasures of life.
*Food is another one of the chief pleasures of life. Any casserole is a good casserole and any dessert is a good dessert. Talking about these is another good use of time.
*There is something to be learned from each person you meet.
For a young, single girl who sometimes gets blue about it, I especially learned things from the widows in the park here – including my grandma. I sat at a concert of love tunes with them on Saturday night. Love songs sometimes make me sad, because of my lack of a lover, but they don’t make these ladies sad at all. They remember past love, enjoy watching the love of other people, and celebrate love in general instead of feeling sorry for themselves. They don’t waste time grasping for what once was or what could have been, but they concentrate on living each day now to the fullest. They enjoy each other, share stories, golf, sing, and LIVE.
I was looking around the auditorium last night during a “rhythms in blue� concert at all the people there – all over 55 and most over 70. I’ve been watching these people for the past two weeks and paying close attention, trying to savor each crooked smile, each wrinkled face, each time-and-work-worn hand, each limping walk. These people are precious. They have walked through time, experienced years of heartache and care, worry and fear. They know what it is to hurt, to cry, to mourn, to rejoice, to love, to lose, to win – what it is to live on this earth. As eternity steps closer and closer to them, its light shines in their minds. They don’t worry about being famous or popular or having what they want or getting ahead in life or what they will eat or drink or wherewithal they shall be clothed. They are concerned with people – how each person is feeling, what they are doing, where they are from, and who their grandchildren are. They are in touch with what really matters and they trust the Lord to take care of them, which they have no problem believing He will do, because they’ve lived and seen it and know now that He is faithful. Younger people have a harder time with this, I think. My generation is concerned with success and fame and fortune and being smart instead of wise. We think older people belong in nursing homes and we don’t value their wisdom or experience. I think we should. We should honor them for the lives they have lived, the trials they have come through, and the strength those trials have given them. We should listen more and talk less. We should watch and learn. We should revere these twinkling eyes and dancing feet for the love they have known – and have yet to give. Thank you – to my grandma and to all the other older people who have shown me what a joy it is to be a seasoned saint.
Posted by lilypress at March 13, 2006 10:40 PM
Comments
Well said Naomi Joy!
Posted by: Dad at March 19, 2006 11:42 PM
This post was a great encouragement to me tonight. Thank you Naomi for the great reminder. Keep up the good work...and remember you aren't alone in your "singleness" :)
Posted by: Nikkae at April 6, 2006 3:15 AM
