From The Lutheran Standard, June 5, 1979, page 29; author’s name withheld. A man died at the age of 85. Â He was one of those old and steady saints of the church. Â He had been a devoted husband, a good father, a beloved man in congregation and community, a school janitor, and a fellow with […]
3141) An Encouraging Word Read More »
   She was 89.  Her arthritis kept her from moving around freely in the nursing home, and now that her sight was gone, she was even more reluctant to venture out on her own.  She had no family, and all her friends were gone.  No one came to visit her.    Most days
2968) Let Me Not Live to Be Useless Read More »
Painting above:  Old Man and Child, by Finnish painter Hugo Simberg (1873-1917) ——————– From a letter by Hannah Whithall Smith (1832-1911):    We are in 1903 and I am nearly seventy-one years old.  I always thought I should love to grow old, and I find it even more delightful than I thought.  It is so
2920) At Peace With Growing Old Read More »
By Frederick Buechner (1926- 2022), in Telling Secrets, 1991.    (My mother denounced) the ravages of old age but never accepted them as the inevitable consequences of getting old.  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me today,” she must have said a thousand days as she tried once, then again, then a third time,
2723) Fading Beauty Read More »
————————– LUKE 18:15-17: People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them.  When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.   But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly
2618) Let Them Come Read More »
   Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old.  Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something of every subject and on every occasion.  Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.  Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful but not bossy.  With my
1470) Prayers for the Evening of Life Read More »
From “Don’t Waste Your Aging” by Andree Seu Peterson, posted April 5, 2017 at: http://www.wng.org (adapted)    My father-in-law has fallen again.  I heard the loud thud from the kitchen and there he was like a beached whale, motionless on his tummy where he landed.    My cat now spends half her day in
1462) Getting Old Read More »
From Prayers at Twilight, by Arthur O. Roberts, (1923-2016; pictured above), 2003, Barclay Press. Â Roberts wrote a book Exploring Heaven to describe what the Bible and great Christian thinkers have said about heaven. Â As he was writing that, he was also writing prayers about the end of this life and the anticipation of the life
1443) Prayers at the Twilight of Life Read More »
“Five Things I Pray I Will Not Do as a Senior Adult in the Church” by Thom Rainer, July 18, 2016 at: Â www.ThomRanier.com ————————————- Â Â Â I received my first AARP material in the mail six years ago. Â I turned 61 years old two days ago. Â I am a senior adult. Â Â Â Have I
1196) On Not Becoming a Cranky Old Church Member Read More »
Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) ———————— We entangle ourselves in business and immerse ourselves in luxury,… until the darkness of old age begins to invade us, and disease and anxiety obstruct our way.  We then look back upon our lives with horror, with sorrow, with repentance; and too often vainly wish that we had not forsaken the ways of
437) Samuel Johnson on Growing Old Read More »
