Is The Hope of The Church Only For the Young and Healthy? (What Do We Tell The Sick, The Disabled, and The Elderly?)

[Suze]

I think u have touched on a very serious point here and I wonder how many brothers and sisters r going to hear the words ' I never knew u ' . When we ignore any of our members , deliberately and repeatedly , we r ignoring Christ . Now I am actually a very shy person in person , not on here , in case u haven't noticed . I am definitely an introverted wall flower who finds it very hard to initiate conversation with strangers , even brothers and sisters . I have however, made the effort several times and to b honest , it didn't seem as if my attention was welcome and , me being a bit shy and oversensitive , if u reject me once , u won't get a second chance .
I don't attend any church now and I miss the service , the hymns and the exhortations but not the social side at all , I'm sorry to admit this but I can't lie about it .
When I started going to church I was young , slim , attractive and single . This didn't seem to go down too well . Now I'm 59 tomorrow overweight and ugly and have some health problems , nothing too drastic but my daily life is affected . So I guess no one would want to know me now either . I don't even ask my family and close friends for help so I wouldn't ever ask anybody at church .
I'm not the only person who had problems with my previous congregation and their lack of inclusivity so I know it wasn't just me . I don't know what the answer is , if Christians have to b reminded how to treat each other then I think we r in a very seriously sorry state and, we will feel that sting at our Lord's return I'm sure .

 

[Billyd]

Maybe some can comment on this.

I've noticed that there is a distance between our senior single men and women and the couples in the congregation. Most of them have lost a spouse in the not-so-distant past. They were always close as couples, but it seems to me that they withdraw from the group when they lose a spouse.

 

[Lanolin]

Does it seem like the church's resources are often concentrated on the young and healthy? If so, what more can we do for those who don't fit into those categories?

Yes and no.
As a lot of congregations are aging, churches often do outreach to retirement and rest homes, and theirs also hospice or hospital chaplaincy.

I've worked in retirement villages (as gardener) and most of them are thankful that I can get down on my hands and knees in the garden and do the heavy, noisy work as well, and get amongst the trees and prune etc. And water the plants because they can be forgetful, and that needs to be done at least once a week in the summer.

You get the odd entitled ones, but many have been keen gardeners themselves and can't do or reach things anymore, and I don't mind doing little jobs for those people, or helping alongside. And it just helps brighten their day when they can have fresh flowers picked for them.

I've just been put on a flower roster for hospice so am doing an arrangement every week for the hospice. I am sure they then distribute the flowers to whoever can appreciate them even if they are on their last legs. It just gives a peace to have flowers, something pretty to look at and smell.

That's just one thing I've done. You can do other small thing as well, sit next to a widow in church so they can have some company and chat with them so they not by themselves. They like being asked about their life and family and most are friendly and feeling a bit lonely...thats why they come to church!

Some churches do a whole day, they call it 'care centre' for the elderly and give them outings and trips because they are no longer safe driving. And others who are disabled in some way appreciate a ride.

When my mum was in the rest home hospital, they celebrated birthdays even if no other family members could be there, and they had people come in play music and have a sing along (old tunes that they know) and do little exercises etc. Hospital is no fun for anyone so if you can visit and share a picture or a laugh (read some magazines and do some quizzes - some older people have good memories even if they can't remember five seconds ago) but even those that don't can appreciate flowers, or a furry pet come visit that they can stroke, or a nice blanket or some kind of comforter, as can be painful growing older.

So there's lots of little things you can do, if you can't be with them, send cards or something to brighten their day. They will be living day by day anyway, sometimes they have good days, some bad, but you can ease the pain just by being around. As Jesus was dying on the cross at least he had two others with him that he could talk to, and he did.

 

[Lanolin]

Entitlement

Having worked in retail...I can't say those on govt assistance were always customers, because I worked in a bookstore, but they could always go to the library and read for free and borrow books if they had a library card, so I never felt they were a problem... (only one lady who always came, never bought anything, chatted for ages, and used our store as a storage locker, but she would bribe us with muffins)

It was the homeschool mothers , well one, that we all had trouble with because she was quite demanding, and borrowed a lot of books, which I guess was hard for her to keep track of. And she thought she was smarter than everyone else just because she could homeschool her children.

But otherwise, we were open to people with disabilities, made things easier for them to access, if they were in a wheelchair or a walker, offered help lifting things. If the were deaf or hard of hearing you can always write things down if they not getting it.

I remember one troublesome patron or customer who would always call us and ask for the answers to trivia questions because a radio was having a competition, and she wanted to win the prize, and I suppose we were her lifeline or phone-a-friend lol
We didn't always know the correct answer. I suppose she didn't have internet, or navigating it was confusing for her.


Oh and the people who aren't teach savvy...they need help too! Just with basic stuff, how to open an email, how to remember a password (tip, write it down!! somewhere. In a notebook or something) how to download an app, how to open up an account --encourage them to know how to do internet banking. It is so annoying when someone doesn't even know how to do EFTPOS. I can't remember your PIN for you! Just encourage them, set it up so they CAN do it, and feel confident doing so rather than them doing things the old, slow way which most businesses don't even do anymore.

 

[Lynx]

Please explain what you mean to say your dad lost his feet?

Last October dad lost a foot to diabetes. Just a couple months ago he lost the other foot. Both below the knee, both easily replaceable with prosthetics. He already has one fake foot. Waiting on the other stump to heal so he can get a second fake foot.

 

[Magenta]

Last October dad lost a foot to diabetes. Just a couple months ago he lost the other foot. Both below the knee, both easily replaceable with prosthetics. He already has one fake foot. Waiting on the other stump to heal so he can get a second fake foot.

I am so sorry to hear that. Diabetes is a terrible disease. I hope his prosthetics work well for him...

How is he doing? We have a member here (well, one that I know of) with a lower limb prosthetic.

 

[Lynx]

Thank you @Gideon300 for this very thorough reply!

It's always interesting to me to hear how other people are living out their own challenges in the various stages of life, and to hear what they are seeing around them.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about respect.

But one thing I observed on my trip was how much harder it is when the respect isn't mutual. I was, of course, raised to respect my elders -- but I've also seen how taxing it is when the elders themselves are disrespectful.

Having worked in retail all my life, the two most entitled groups of people I've ever encountered were:

1. When I worked at a store with a customer base that was dependent on government assistance. They thought everyone else had unfair advantages over them and has done them wrong in some way, so they always felt that everybody owed them something for free.

2. I found a similar attitude when I worked in an area that was mostly retirees, especially those with money and free time. They treated others like house servants because they felt they'd done everyone a favor by living long lives -- therefore, now everyone else owed them something.

Now of course, I'm not trying to say that at all that older people haven't contributed to society -- but I think it's highly individual, and people might be a great help or a great hindrance to their communities at any age or stage in life.

And of course, there can be a myriad of other factors at play (mental illness, narcissistic personality, dementia, etc.)

I have observed some people taking care of family members who demand everything and give nothing. I had one friend whose parents constantly expected this and that, never caring about how much it disrupted their adult children's families or grandkids, nor did they care what it cost -- because it was seen as owed to them.

I have wondered what I would do if I were in an ongoing situation like that.

A friend's daughter precociously asked me, "Is babysitting older people like babysitting kids?"

I thought about it a minute (seeing as I have limited experience,) and I told her that in a lot of ways, it's much harder, because with a child, you know you are the established authority figure.

But with someone older, and especially a parent or grandparent, you have to somehow meet their needs and keep them safe while upholding their dignity, even when they're arguing and fighting you at every turn. You have to be both authority figure and respectful child at the same time, and that's quite a challenge.

But I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who ponders this topic!

We all know how things "should" be.

But I think we're also all realistic enough to know it won't happen this side of heaven.

I'm happy to hear , though, that it doesn't stop some people from trying!

May God bless you all through your own challenges and the ones you are helping!

You can see a lot of entitlement in some countries in the Middle East that we are sending aid to. They refer to us as the great satan of the west, and at the same time they consider it only just and fair that we send them help.

I think it has a lot to do with pride. Either your pride suffers because you are accepting somebody's help, or you find a way to vilify the person helping you so you can justify taking their help without hurting your pride.

 

[seoulsearch]

I found this very touching. I imagine how happy he was to have someone to talk to!

The particular man I mentioned in the wheelchair was actually a "special" case. He was actually the pastor's father! I didn't know this until we exchanged introductions.

And he was also a pastor himself, so he was presumably well-known. What I found so inspiring was that he told me he'd just been placed in a care facility, so I'm sure he was going through huge adjustments in his life. But there he was, choosing to be in church, singing his heart out and praising the Lord.

He had a line of people forming after the service waiting to talk to him -- but he graciously gave me several moments of his time to explain his story.

 

[seoulsearch]

I think u have touched on a very serious point here and I wonder how many brothers and sisters r going to hear the words ' I never knew u ' . When we ignore any of our members , deliberately and repeatedly , we r ignoring Christ . Now I am actually a very shy person in person , not on here , in case u haven't noticed . I am definitely an introverted wall flower who finds it very hard to initiate conversation with strangers , even brothers and sisters . I have however, made the effort several times and to b honest , it didn't seem as if my attention was welcome and , me being a bit shy and oversensitive , if u reject me once , u won't get a second chance .
I don't attend any church now and I miss the service , the hymns and the exhortations but not the social side at all , I'm sorry to admit this but I can't lie about it .
When I started going to church I was young , slim , attractive and single . This didn't seem to go down too well . Now I'm 59 tomorrow overweight and ugly and have some health problems , nothing too drastic but my daily life is affected . So I guess no one would want to know me now either . I don't even ask my family and close friends for help so I wouldn't ever ask anybody at church .
I'm not the only person who had problems with my previous congregation and their lack of inclusivity so I know it wasn't just me . I don't know what the answer is , if Christians have to b reminded how to treat each other then I think we r in a very seriously sorry state and, we will feel that sting at our Lord's return I'm sure .

You always seem like such a sweet, compassionate person, @Suze.

I'm really sorry people have mistreated you, especially in church. I do think most every Christian has had some bad experiences in church circles -- and as you describe, jealousy (over you being young and pretty) is a real thing that happens -- sadly.

I've followed my parents to different parts of the country, and each time it usually took me about 6-8 churches before I found one or two I felt I was supposed to at. I usually go to one that's very traditional, and one that's more modern and non-denominational. I found the "flavor" and atmospheres to very different between denominations and churches in general.

Some were very cold, as you describe. Some were so excited to have a visitor they would announce it somewhere before or after the service! (I was mortified!) I know they meant well, but I wanted to slink under the chairs and sneak away.

And some seemed to get just the right mix of friendly without being intrusive. This has inspired how I hope to be for others when they visit or decide to attend church as well.

We're very happy to have you here on this site!

I appreciate that you always try to see the other person's perspective, and you care deeply about other's feelings.

May God bless you!

 

[seoulsearch]

Maybe some can comment on this.

I've noticed that there is a distance between our senior single men and women and the couples in the congregation. Most of them have lost a spouse in the not-so-distant past. They were always close as couples, but it seems to me that they withdraw from the group when they lose a spouse.

Hi @Billyd! Thank you for bringing this up.

Great observation and I've seen and heard two perspectives about this (just my own perspective):

1. When a married person's spouse dies, they might not want to be around other marrieds due to feeling like they are intruding or no longer belong.

They might also not want to be reminded that they are now alone. As a single person, I've met some wonderful marrieds who graciously invited me to something, but the hardest part was watching them go home together, while I turned to go home alone.

I can't imagine how much more devastating this must be for, say, a gentleman who has just lost his wife after 50 years together, and he goes back to his little lonely house while his married friends go home together.

Sometimes being around couples is more than one's heart can bear -- whether due to jealousy, anger ("God, why did you take my wife and not someone else's?!"), or just plain sadness, it can be hard being around people who have someone when you don't.


2. Plain and simple, the married people might have kicked the single people out. I know this sounds harsh, but I have been learning this from older people in the church who have lost their spouses.

The married people no longer see them as being equal to them or in the same classification, therefore, they no longer belong.

I have a dear friend of the family who found out this very harsh reality when her husband died. Let's call her Connie (not her real name.)

There was another church couple they had been lifelong friends, and the wife strictly told Connie, "I know you're going to try to steal my husband since you don't have one anymore! You are no longer welcome around us, or any of the circles we are in!" This woman couldn't imagine anyone being able to live as a single, so she automatically assumed anyone in this position would lunge at any member of the opposite sex just to have someone.

I can't imagine anyone being more cruel to a new widow, but I'm finding that it seems to be a reality for many. Everyone assumes they can't live without someone and therefore, will steal someone else's significant other, therefore, they are now shunned. I saw a bit of this in the senior circles my Grandpa was in when my Grandma died as well. Even in their 80's and 90's, there was fierce competition over anyone seen as eligible (healthier, younger, or richer than the others), whether man or woman.

This is why I have a growing concern for people in these situations -- they literally lose their spouse and their lifelong friends all in one shot, and have no where else to go.

It has been ironic to me to see what happens over time. When I was in my 20's and my husband left for his girlfriend, the good church people (married) patted me on the back and said all kinds of condescending things to me, telling me I was just a baby. Now, I understand why they thought that way. But nobody knew the future.

Singles get talked down to a lot -- it just happened the other day right here in the "Age" differences thread, where someone came in and said we were young and didn't know anything about love or marriage. The ironic thing is that the person scolding us is 56, and he was quoting a well-respected CC member here who is 71.

This man was trying to "talk down" to someone 15 years older than him, and with a long life of experience regarding love and marriage. Talk about, Maybe you should take a minute to look before you leap!!

I no longer live in my hometown, but some of the people who patted me on the head have or are now facing their own separations, divorces, or deaths of their spouse. The evil part of me hopes that everyone is swarming around them telling them all the condescending things they told me -- and I wonder if they find it just as useless as I did.

I understand that married people never really picture the day they won't be married anymore -- no one serious about marriage really does. But when it does happen, it's truly got to be the shock of a lifetime.

So when life hits the fan, and God eventually comes to collect on that "'Til Death Do Us Part" promise...

Some of us singles who have been talked down to all their lives might just be the ones to take some of those newly single people by the hand and say, "I know it's scary, but I've been doing this for 30 years, so I know a little about how this goes. Let's help you get back on your feet, even though I know it feels like the ground has been ripped out from underneath."

 

[seoulsearch]

Does it seem like the church's resources are often concentrated on the young and healthy? If so, what more can we do for those who don't fit into those categories?

Yes and no.
As a lot of congregations are aging, churches often do outreach to retirement and rest homes, and theirs also hospice or hospital chaplaincy.

I've worked in retirement villages (as gardener) and most of them are thankful that I can get down on my hands and knees in the garden and do the heavy, noisy work as well, and get amongst the trees and prune etc. And water the plants because they can be forgetful, and that needs to be done at least once a week in the summer.

You get the odd entitled ones, but many have been keen gardeners themselves and can't do or reach things anymore, and I don't mind doing little jobs for those people, or helping alongside. And it just helps brighten their day when they can have fresh flowers picked for them.

I've just been put on a flower roster for hospice so am doing an arrangement every week for the hospice. I am sure they then distribute the flowers to whoever can appreciate them even if they are on their last legs. It just gives a peace to have flowers, something pretty to look at and smell.

That's just one thing I've done. You can do other small thing as well, sit next to a widow in church so they can have some company and chat with them so they not by themselves. They like being asked about their life and family and most are friendly and feeling a bit lonely...thats why they come to church!

Some churches do a whole day, they call it 'care centre' for the elderly and give them outings and trips because they are no longer safe driving. And others who are disabled in some way appreciate a ride.

When my mum was in the rest home hospital, they celebrated birthdays even if no other family members could be there, and they had people come in play music and have a sing along (old tunes that they know) and do little exercises etc. Hospital is no fun for anyone so if you can visit and share a picture or a laugh (read some magazines and do some quizzes - some older people have good memories even if they can't remember five seconds ago) but even those that don't can appreciate flowers, or a furry pet come visit that they can stroke, or a nice blanket or some kind of comforter, as can be painful growing older.

So there's lots of little things you can do, if you can't be with them, send cards or something to brighten their day. They will be living day by day anyway, sometimes they have good days, some bad, but you can ease the pain just by being around. As Jesus was dying on the cross at least he had two others with him that he could talk to, and he did.

I love your idea of maybe meeting up with an older person who has/had similar interests as you, then being able to participate in them together, offering your skills to do what they no longer can.

I'm sure your hard work in the garden is a blessing to all the gardeners and farmers who can't do the heavy toiling now, but still love watching things blossom and grow.

The flower roster sounds wonderful -- who doesn't feel just a tiny bit better when they see fresh flowers?

For various reasons I've kind of given up my creative hobbies (my hands can't grip the needles as well, my eyes can't focus on the stitches, and I have to rest my hands a lot,) so I was fortunate to find an older woman who enjoys doing machine embroidery. She needs her bolts of material cut to a specific size, so she'll text me when she has a new bolt, and I just pick it up at the front desk and work on it at home.

It's a great arrangement for both of us, since it's easier for her to have things pre-cut -- and it makes me feel useful!

Great post, @Lanolin!

 

[Billyd]

Hi @Billyd! Thank you for bringing this up.

Great observation and I've seen and heard two perspectives about this (just my own perspective):

1. When a married person's spouse dies, they might not want to be around other marrieds due to feeling like they are intruding or no longer belong.

They might also not want to be reminded that they are now alone. As a single person, I've met some wonderful marrieds who graciously invited me to something, but the hardest part was watching them go home together, while I turned to go home alone.

I can't imagine how much more devastating this must be for, say, a gentleman who has just lost his wife after 50 years together, and he goes back to his little lonely house while his married friends go home together.

Sometimes being around couples is more than one's heart can bear -- whether due to jealousy, anger ("God, why did you take my wife and not someone else's?!"), or just plain sadness, it can be hard being around people who have someone when you don't.


2. Plain and simple, the married people might have kicked the single people out. I know this sounds harsh, but I have been learning this from older people in the church who have lost their spouses.

The married people no longer see them as being equal to them or in the same classification, therefore, they no longer belong.

I have a dear friend of the family who found out this very harsh reality when her husband died. Let's call her Connie (not her real name.)

There was another church couple they had been lifelong friends, and the wife strictly told Connie, "I know you're going to try to steal my husband since you don't have one anymore! You are no longer welcome around us, or any of the circles we are in!" This woman couldn't imagine anyone being able to live as a single, so she automatically assumed anyone in this position would lunge at any member of the opposite sex just to have someone.

I can't imagine anyone being more cruel to a new widow, but I'm finding that it seems to be a reality for many. Everyone assumes they can't live without someone and therefore, will steal someone else's significant other, therefore, they are now shunned. I saw a bit of this in the senior circles my Grandpa was in when my Grandma died as well. Even in their 80's and 90's, there was fierce competition over anyone seen as eligible (healthier, younger, or richer than the others), whether man or woman.

This is why I have a growing concern for people in these situations -- they literally lose their spouse and their lifelong friends all in one shot, and have no where else to go.

It has been ironic to me to see what happens over time. When I was in my 20's and my husband left for his girlfriend, the good church people (married) patted me on the back and said all kinds of condescending things to me, telling me I was just a baby. Now, I understand why they thought that way. But nobody knew the future.

Singles get talked down to a lot -- it just happened the other day right here in the "Age" differences thread, where someone came in and said we were young and didn't know anything about love or marriage. The ironic thing is that the person scolding us is 56, and he was quoting a well-respected CC member here who is 71.

This man was trying to "talk down" to someone 15 years older than him, and with a long life of experience regarding love and marriage. Talk about, Maybe you should take a minute to look before you leap!!

I no longer live in my hometown, but some of the people who patted me on the head have or are now facing their own separations, divorces, or deaths of their spouse. The evil part of me hopes that everyone is swarming around them telling them all the condescending things they told me -- and I wonder if they find it just as useless as I did.

I understand that married people never really picture the day they won't be married anymore -- no one serious about marriage really does. But when it does happen, it's truly got to be the shock of a lifetime.

So when life hits the fan, and God eventually comes to collect on that "'Til Death Do Us Part" promise...

Some of us singles who have been talked down to all their lives might just be the ones to take some of those newly single people by the hand and say, "I know it's scary, but I've been doing this for 30 years, so I know a little about how this goes. Let's help you get back on your feet, even though I know it feels like the ground has been ripped out from underneath."

Thanks for the response.

My grandmother passed less than three months after their fiftieth anniversary. My grandfather lived another 10 years. He had lost all of his children before she passed. Whenever possible, the grandchildren would sit on the porch and listen to him talk about her. The one common theme was "I lost all my children, but nothing compares to the loss of your grandmother". What I noticed during the last years was how visits from all members of our church's senior adult class lifted his spirits. When a couple came to visit, he would make an extra effort to encourage them to cherish each other.

 

[seoulsearch]

Thanks for the response.

My grandmother passed less than three months after their fiftieth anniversary. My grandfather lived another 10 years. He had lost all of his children before she passed. Whenever possible, the grandchildren would sit on the porch and listen to him talk about her. The one common theme was "I lost all my children, but nothing compares to the loss of your grandmother". What I noticed during the last years was how visits from all members of our church's senior adult class lifted his spirits. When a couple came to visit, he would make an extra effort to encourage them to cherish each other.

I am SO SORRY for all of your grandfather's loss.

Oh my goodness, I can't even comprehend how a heart can take that many losses.

I'm so glad his grandchildren and your adult senior class members came to visit him!

Sounds like it gave him a wonderful chance to share his wisdom.

Thanks very much, @Billyd, for sharing this!

It's always a treat to see you in these threads.

 

[Gideon300]

Thank you @Gideon300 for this very thorough reply!

It's always interesting to me to hear how other people are living out their own challenges in the various stages of life, and to hear what they are seeing around them.

I agree with you wholeheartedly about respect.

But one thing I observed on my trip was how much harder it is when the respect isn't mutual. I was, of course, raised to respect my elders -- but I've also seen how taxing it is when the elders themselves are disrespectful.

Having worked in retail all my life, the two most entitled groups of people I've ever encountered were:

1. When I worked at a store with a customer base that was dependent on government assistance. They thought everyone else had unfair advantages over them and has done them wrong in some way, so they always felt that everybody owed them something for free.

2. I found a similar attitude when I worked in an area that was mostly retirees, especially those with money and free time. They treated others like house servants because they felt they'd done everyone a favor by living long lives -- therefore, now everyone else owed them something.

Now of course, I'm not trying to say that at all that older people haven't contributed to society -- but I think it's highly individual, and people might be a great help or a great hindrance to their communities at any age or stage in life.

And of course, there can be a myriad of other factors at play (mental illness, narcissistic personality, dementia, etc.)

I have observed some people taking care of family members who demand everything and give nothing. I had one friend whose parents constantly expected this and that, never caring about how much it disrupted their adult children's families or grandkids, nor did they care what it cost -- because it was seen as owed to them.

I have wondered what I would do if I were in an ongoing situation like that.

A friend's daughter precociously asked me, "Is babysitting older people like babysitting kids?"

I thought about it a minute (seeing as I have limited experience,) and I told her that in a lot of ways, it's much harder, because with a child, you know you are the established authority figure.

But with someone older, and especially a parent or grandparent, you have to somehow meet their needs and keep them safe while upholding their dignity, even when they're arguing and fighting you at every turn. You have to be both authority figure and respectful child at the same time, and that's quite a challenge.

But I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who ponders this topic!

We all know how things "should" be.

But I think we're also all realistic enough to know it won't happen this side of heaven.

I'm happy to hear , though, that it doesn't stop some people from trying!

May God bless you all through your own challenges and the ones you are helping!

I agree. I was thinking more in the church setting than in general society.

My wife was an aged care nurse for 20 years. She was bitten by one of her patients, some simply refused any help, others made it as hard as possible. And relatives are not always appreciative or understanding. Personally, you could not pay me enough to do what she did all those years. She suffers physically too. Lifting patients was hard in those days. She has chronic knee and back problems.

There are machines that help now, so that's a blessing.​

 

[Billyd]

I am SO SORRY for all of your grandfather's loss.

Oh my goodness, I can't even comprehend how a heart can take that many losses.

I'm so glad his grandchildren and your adult senior class members came to visit him!

Sounds like it gave him a wonderful chance to share his wisdom.

Thanks very much, @Billyd, for sharing this!

It's always a treat to see you in these threads.

It was one of many blessings we had growing up in an agricultural community.

 

[Lanolin]

Churches still host a lot of funerals so there's that.
If you desire a Christian funeral and burial the only way to have that is to be a member of a church. Is it part and parcel of church membership? I'm not sure haven't ever asked, most all the funerals I've been to were in funeral homes and if they belonged to a church it would be the minister presiding and saying a few words. Though those who aren't believers just have a celebrant.

Sorry to be a bit morbid, but as believers we have that privilege of laying someone to rest and hope of resurrection.

My neighbour has passed away and I'll be attending her funeral this Saturday at her church.

 

[Citizen]

* What can we do to make the lives of the sick, the differently abled, and the aging feel like they have more purpose and importance? How can we give them the hope and joy that we faithfully preach to everyone else every Sunday?

* What little things can we do that make a big difference? Does it mean just talking to them, finding an activity they can still enjoy, playing a game of cards with them, etc.? (For example, one elderly woman I met commented on how much she liked my nail polish, and I know God is saying that if/when I get back, I should offer to polish her nails.)

* How can we let these long-lived, hard-fought, faithful servants of God know that they, too, are an important part of the church community?

A few churches I've attended had very elderly [90-ish] men address the congregation with a short story after service, meaning they would recount something from childhood, war experience, or life in general and tie it into an edifying Christian lesson. It was very interesting and informative to step back in time and hear those unique perspectives. More of that would be awesome.

 

[seoulsearch]

A few churches I've attended had very elderly [90-ish] men address the congregation with a short story after service, meaning they would recount something from childhood, war experience, or life in general and tie it into an edifying Christian lesson. It was very interesting and informative to step back in time and hear those unique perspectives. More of that would be awesome.

This was awesome to hear, thank you very much for sharing!!

I completely agree -- we need more ways to show people who have lived long lives that they are appreciated, and have valuable life lessons to share.

 

[Lanolin]

I remember the best part of my young ladies bible/prayer group was when we invited an older lady in so we could ask her questions and receive her wisdom and testimony.

She was in the war..I mean in the Blitz and talked about how she hid in an underground bunker back then as they (the English/Allies) were being bombed by the Germans/Nazis/Axis and she found praying Psalm 91 a comfort.