OLD - is it bad?

 ²That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

 ³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

 ⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

 ⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

 ⁶Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

 ⁷In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: 

Titus 2: 2-7

The Bible tells us to look up to older people. It tells the older men to teach the younger men, and the older women to teach the younger women. We're meant to be able to learn from them, from their experience and wisdom.

I don't know how this sits in other parts of the world, but I don't see it happening where I live.

I have a theory that young people are scared of the elderly. I don't know if its that they are afraid of breaking them, or maybe think that all are out of their minds and so its no point talking to them.

Whichever is the case, I can assure you all that it is not true.

Yeah, some old people do lose their memory or sanity and so are not really wells of knowledge anymore. This is not the majority however. There are many perfectly sane, and very knowledgeable people out there who could teach us a thing or two.

As a student nurse, I had to complete several weeks placement in a nursing home. I met many (no exaggeration) elderly who were on top of things. In the day to day of working with them they taught me a thing or two about what they know and enjoy. There was a sign in the hospital section of that home. It had a picture of a nurse standing over a stooped, wrinkly, little lady. The lady is saying, "I have lived through two world wars, a depression and a famine, and raised a family of 6. How dare you tell me when I have to go to bed now." This is typically thought about from a nursing ethics point of view, which I am studying about, but I shall spare you that. Rather, I think that it applies to the Christian viewpoint of such matters.

God has kept these people through wars and famine and trial and tribulation, as well as good times and prosperity. How can we just ignore them as a financial burden and try to find our own way? These people can be of great use to us, if we just see and use them.

On the other side of the glass is also another matter. Namely, we are commanded to visit the widow(er) and the orphan. This is our duty. It is important for the reason talked about above, but also, these people LOVE any visits they get. They have very isolated and lonely lives. If its as simple as popping in for five minutes then why don't we?
Make it your challenge: go to these people and ask them questions. LEARN

Lalie
www.dedicatedchristians.blogspot.com