Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:32
There is a treasure in our midst. But many cannot see it.
Our culture has become so glitzy and glamoury and full of shallow nothings that the true and deep and honest things are glanced over or silenced. This world is about who can speak the most articulate . . . not about he who speaks truth.
They want what is hip and modern and millenial and post modern and woke . . . all those words that somebody came up with to define something that I’m not sure really means anything worth me knowing.
Just give me something simple. Sincere. Real. True.
Give me a person with white hair. And wrinkled hands. Arthritis in their joints. And no teeth of their own. But yet a faithful heart for their God.
They know.
I might think I know what pain is, but when I look into the eyes of my sweet sister in Christ who tells me of how she will not let her daily, debilitating pain not keep her from coming to sit at Jesus’ feet in church on Sunday . . . I look at her beautiful white head and realize I do not know pain at all.
When I see the tears that slip down the wrinkled cheeks of the white-haired man before me as he recounts the beautiful lesson God showed him about his own heart . . . I realize I want what he has desperately. A deep, deep love for my Lord.
When my beautiful mother instructs of how I should love, respect, and honor my imperfect husband . . . I realize she knows. She knows the struggle that will be in my own heart as I submit to God’s way in my marriage, not the world’s way. She knows forgiveness. She knows about rallying beside your man when the devil wants to get him down. She knows about unceasing prayer.
The gray-haired man’s voice breaks as he speaks of his two grown sons who died over two decades ago. Tears slip down. The loss is still real and deep. And I realize I know absolutely nothing of grief that lasts for years.
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 16:31
We’d like to think the elderly are only passed by in the world out there. But how often do we begin to tune them out when they don’t get the words out right or they repeat the same thing over again? Is it too inconvenient? Or perhaps we do not wish to hear the truth of what they speak.
This generation would do well to reject their interest in all that sounds good and looks glamorous. And bend down to listen to whispered words of wisdom.
We have this chance while the wise are still with us. Let us not do what Rehoboam did in I Kings 12 and reject the advice from the older generation who have lived longer, seen more, and come through hard times.
Those white hairs we see on their heads are their badges of courage, their awards of honor, and the letters behind their name. It is what gives their story credibility.
The white head is precious beyond words . . . when it belongs to a heart that has followed God and been found faithful.
They whisper . . . we listen.
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Denise says
Well said, Kendra. Thank you. I miss that wisdom more and more as questions come to mind that I wish I could ask my parents and grandparents. Those precious opportunities are lost so quickly. Blessings to you and your family!
Kendra says
Thank you, Denise! I hope you are all doing well, too!
canderson814 says
A great post. We have a group at our church that used to be called Pillars. They are the strong foundation that our church was built on. Those with white hair and arthritis… Last year their pastor decided to change the ministry name to Encore. Because God isn’t done with them yet. They have more to give and more to teach. I pray we all listen.
Kendra says
What a good idea! Our church was a young one when it started 30 years ago and the bulk of those starters are now middle aged. So our older generation is a little scarce, but loved anyway!
Bernice Regush says
I so enjoyed your thoughts on the elderly, I have worked as a PSW in nursing homes for years. I’am now retired and I loved my patients and respected them so much, oh the wonderful wisdom they imparted to me over the years. I pray God will open our eyes to see their beauty and wisdom.
Kendra says
Bless you for your work! I am sure you have many stories and I appreciate the respect I can tell you have for them.