Verse of the Day - 1 Peter 5:1-2

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be...
~1 Peter 5:1-2 (NIV)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a 46-yr old, I look down the AARP horizon occasionally, but retirement is really a little too far down the road for me to start picking up travel brochures from AAA. Nonetheless, we often consider our senior years those times when we can "take a load off", relax and enjoy those golden years for ourselves. After all, we've earned it, right?

Well, in the community of God's family, our lives are interwoven for many reasons -- friendship, support, admonition, discipleship. All the things that biological families engage in. And when families stick together, this support is cycled through all the various age groups. That is, if they stick together...

What if Grandpa decides that now he's retired, he's moving to a remote island in the Fiji's, with no cellphone, no internet, and no plans to return home. How sad! All the familial bonding that takes place, all the wisdom that is passed down as younger ones deal with life issues, all the knee-bouncing of giggling toddlers...is laid aside for coconuts and palm trees. Though Fiji is beautiful, I think Grandpa would get lonely, being isolated from those who love and need Him.

So, as believers in Jesus and family members with other believers, we have familial responsibility and joy though our various life cycles...

~ If you're a senior adult, you are charged with helping the younger ones with your wisdom and knowledge...after all, I'm sure when you were young, someone did the same for you. Be patient with them when they seem to listen to your advice, but go headlong in the other direction. Stay with them when they fall down, and celebrate when they are successful. And laugh -- it's good for everyone!

~ If you're a younger person, make sure you take time to spend with senior adults. Listen to them, because they've been around the block a few more times than you, and have learned a thing or two along the way. Learn to enjoy their company -- many older people are very humorous, when you get to know 'em!

Regardless of where you are in life, take time to be with people of all ages in your church family. We all need to learn from each other and love each other. After all, we're family -- so no heading out to a deserted island on your own, okay?

(If you don't have a local church family, please consider getting connected to one . . . the family bonding you can experience is so valuable and needful for your spirit and your growth.)

Love,
Joelene