goes a long way with aging. But it's state of
mind
ing one gentleman excitedly go to the mailbox
because he saw the postman come. Then he
opened his little box, there was nothing there,
and his face dropped. I thought, "These are
the things that are very real and people don't under-
stand that older adults look forward to getting mail.
That's an important thing."
My grandparents lived with our family so I've been
around older adults all my life.
WC:
role reversal. There is more responsibility to take on
with parents. But I remind people, "Your parent is
not a child. We make a mistake when we start think-
ing of them as children even though they require
help with their most basic needs. They're still your
parents." It's important that we not think of them as
children because that robs them of their dignity and
respect at a time when they're already feeling so vul-
nerable. So many things have been taken away from
them, whether it's the car keys or they're moving
into an assisted living center or whatever it may be.
The loss of loved ones, the loss of friends, all of those
things just kind of snowball. I say, "Try standing in
the orthopedic shoes of your loved ones. Try seeing
through their eyes and understand."
WC:
use many times when I speak to older adults. He
says, "The greatest sermon ever preached can be the
last years of your life." You are still shaping your
legacy: how you treat caregivers, family, your attitude
about today's dinner. People are watching and learn-
ing. You impact their lives in your faithfulness and
your treatment of other people. Your story is not fin-
ished so don't close the book. God does not make mis-
takes. You are here. You still have a purpose as long
as you are breathing.
ploring the ideas of what heaven is like.
to be able to do but you can do something else." They
can serve, by doing something as simple as knocking
on the door of their neighbor.
WC:
we just go out and buy a new one. Sadly, that men-
tality pervades the way that Americans look at aging.
We also need a fuller appreciation of the rich stories
that older people have. There was a 99�year�old
woman who said, "Missy, you know how you're al-
ways talking about how we old people are supposed
to be wise. Why did nobody every ask me for it?"
WC:
blonde hair thanks to Clairol. I'm not immune to the
whole idea. I don't think any of us are ready to get
there. As my knees creak and my eyes start changing,
I'm reminded that my body is not the same as before.
But I'm not afraid because I've been around such won-
derful older adults. I want to be like them. I want to
embrace aging as they do. None of us look forward to
loss or decline. Henri Nouwen describes it as a wheel,
moving forward. You're going to be moving over new
ground as you go around as part of the aging process.
I wish more adult children could embrace that and
not be afraid with their parents. But many look at
their parents and say,"I can't live like that." You might
have a stroke today and be there tomorrow. Just em-
brace it for what it is and draw from that well of
faith and move forward.