“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
I recently had a discussion with a friend whose 90 year old mother is getting very forgetful. Often in a conversation she will ask about someone or something that they discussed no more than 30 seconds before. He wanted my opinion on what to do in those moments. I said tell her again. The only thing that should concern you is if she tires of you repeating yourself. If it makes her happy and if seems like new news to her let her enjoy it as often as she wants. I know it is exasperating at times to have to keep repeating ourselves. But, what a beautiful gift it can be to honor a person by patiently understanding and loving them by this kind of simple act. I have friends in the nursing home business. I am grateful that they are some of the good ones who know they will answer to God one day for the kind of care they provide older men and women. They are a needed blessing. There is something very Christlike in those cultures where the elderly are not viewed as a burden but a gift and they work very hard to keep them in the home with them. I’m often reminded to picture this older person as a teenager or young parent and know that that person is still there. I also recognize that if I survive it may be me one day. These lessons are caught not taught. Your children are watching. Today love the elderly with every gift of the Holy Spirit. #BeTheEdge
“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:32 NIV
