My phone rang recently. “This is Bill Fletcher. I was just calling to check on Paul.” Bill is a precious friend from our church, and we receive calls from him on a regular basis.
He’s in his 80s and the sweetness of Jesus shines through him as he prays for and encourages so many of us. His footsteps have gotten slower over the years, he can’t physically do as much as before, but, oh my, he’s such a blessing to us.
That started me thinking about how blessed we have been through the years by our senior citizen friends:
1) They teach and mentor us.
They share old recipes and cooking tips. They impart lessons learned about faith and life and family—sometimes so we won’t have to experience the pitfalls that they encountered.
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2) They share their stories.
About 15 years ago, our family adopted a precious elderly couple that we met at Cracker Barrel while on vacation at Hilton Head Island. Every year after that when we were on vacation there, we enjoyed meals together and visits in their home.
Their stories were fascinating as he shared about his years working on the Manhattan Project and as she talked about their travels and experiences. They enriched our lives.
3) They share their love.
I’ll never forget the first gift we received after learning that Paul and I would become parents. One of the sweet older couples at our church stopped by our house that next week with a package that contained a lovely shawl blanket and a pair of soft green booties.
What made it even more precious is that I knew that things were tight for them money-wise, and their gift had been a sacrifice. That moment happened 39 years ago, but I’ve never forgotten the love that was wrapped in that present for our baby boy.
4) They share their faith.
There are few gifts more special than sitting and talking with someone who has spent a lifetime walking with God. Stories of God’s faithfulness during hard times, His goodness on so many occasions, lessons learned through difficult times and treasures mined from God’s Word are priceless.
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5) They share their prayer time.
It’s an amazing blessing to have someone who will take time to pray for you. Years with God pay off in a close and loving relationship, an intimacy as they talk with Him.
Has your live been blessed by a senior citizen? Today would be a good time to say thank you and to tell them what they mean to you.
