The elderly have dreams, ambitions, favorite foods, tempers and a whole lot of wisdom.
1. It is us united, not us versus them.
When I first began working at a senior care facility, I had the mentality that I am stronger and have more going for me than my clients do. That sounds awful, but at the time I thought it was true… until I started to listen. All who I have had the pleasure of helping have gone through more than most people hope to experience. A lot of death, a lot of heart ache, a LOT of change. Some have come to this point with a spouse, and others have not. Some have close family, while others are alone. What I’m trying to say is that just because they are old does not mean they should be forgotten. We are all made in God’s image. If you understand the Bible, you must also understand this: His promises are not just for those who have barely begun living. They are equally for those who have seen a life go by.
2. If you don't use it, you lose it.
Surprisingly, I’m not talking about body parts or your brain. I’m talking about time. There’s one thing all of my clients have said in one way or another, and it has been to make the most of the blessing of mobility, family, work and youth. Make the most of your time. In other words, live a little! Memories last longer and will carry you farther than a nice car or a big house, though these things are certainly not evil. Don’t wish you were older and don’t idolize adulthood. (I don’t really think my generation does). Use your time wisely. By “live a little,” I am not encouraging reckless endangerment of you or your friends and loved ones in order to make a memory that involves the police or broken hearts. I am encouraging reaching out of your comfort zone in order to serve others. Make connections, save up money to travel, love your spouse, seek and follow Jesus Christ with everything you are. Live!
3. Be an example
While eating lunch with a client, they said something that caught me off guard. They said that in everything I do, I am an example to my generation and an example of my generation. Because they can’t reach people my age through technology or public speaking (as they don’t have that know-how or that power), some of us need to listen to and learn from their mistakes and wisdom and “translate” it, if you will, into a form of communication that my generation can learn from and utilize effectively. That’s part of the reason why I’m writing an article about this. Continue to pray for more Christian entities in the public sphere of social media, TV shows, celebrities, etc. because so many people are reached through those platforms. All of those who don’t want to be movie stars, live like Christ. It starts with the simple prayer, “Father, show me how to live like You.” The next step is obedience.
4. Laugh!
Laughter is the best medicine, no matter how young or old you are. If I can get a client to smile, that’s a good good thing. It builds connection and it sucks all the air out of the problems of the day. Most of the elderly that I have met know how to laugh. Joy keeps you spiritually young. It is the hardest to connect with someone if they don’t try to find the good over the bad. I’m not saying it’s bad to have a time of mourning or to say that things like death are difficult. What I mean is that the daily ho-hum can be easily broken up by a quick joke or a silly gesture. A dull morning can become a great memory when you do something out of the ordinary, like wear a clown wig when you come out for breakfast… I don’t know. Joy equals strength, and the only joy that is pure and eternal is the Lord’s joy. He delights in knowing you and He loves laughter.
Our seniors know a thing or two about life. They have encouraged me to enjoy today, to be an example and to live in joy. What about you?
