Editor’s Note: the “save as pending” and the “publish” button are pretty close in our set-up, and this got published this morning, by accident. I’m republishing it tonight to give you another chance to read it – not compressed around other posts.
Last night a handful of folks from church went to a nursing home to stage a little surprise birthday party for a woman who turns 95 this week. It was a simple affair with a small cake and the sounds of “Happy Birthday” filling the corridor as she was wheeled towards us. We hit the gentle crescendo right on cue as she saw our faces and put it all together. (And right before another resident told us to keep it down.) Then we all told her how much we appreciate her and gathered around to hear stories we’d all heard before, but still love to hear her tell. Some stories reached back to before the Great Depression. Some from just a few years ago. But all of them involved a girl, then later a woman, following her Lord Jesus Christ for many, many years.
She never thought she’d live to see 95. Who would? I don’t think I’ll see it, and longevity runs in my family. My father’s father was 87 when he died from an otherwise-avoidable circumstance. Dad’s 81 this year and still going strong, as is his 86 year old brother. Still, women live longer than men, typically, so I doubt I’ll get there. My wife might, though. And so might you.
Our friend still comes to Sunday night services and Wednesday night prayer meetings when she’s well. (There’s always someone willing to pick her up.) And if her body can muster it, you bet she’ll be at next church business meeting.
I can’t imagine a more precious life experience than being in your mid-90s, being celebrated by people generations younger than you and watching them watching you with rapt attention as you regale them with stories of trusting Jesus. What a beautiful gift you would give them as you model the Christian life before them week in and week out.
How do you prepare for your 95th birthday? The same way you prepare for any of them. Live your life for Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins, believe the amazingly Good News of forgiveness and salvation He offers, and then live one day after the next, after the next, in grateful devotion to Him.
David,
I’ve done a good deal of ministry in convalescent homes, and I found your article both touching and thought provoking. Thank you.
On a separate note, I think we may be seeing the beginning of the unraveling of the Neo-Traditionalists over at SBC Today. I don’t think Rick Patrick’s denial of imputed guilt is going to fly in the SBC.
This is only the tip of the iceberg, though. If the TS does happen to gain wide acceptance I think we are going to see a revival of liberalism that could rival the 70’s and 80’s. This thing has left the door wide open to all sorts of liberal ideology, including Open Theism.
There’s an Open Theist over there right now who has been using the T.S. to argue against Calvinism. He has even gone so far as to deny the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. And not one Neo-Traditionalist has rebutted him on any point he has raised. I don’t think they even recognize that he is an Open Theist.
Getting interesting.
Grace and Peace, brothers
…I’m sorry….that should have been addressed to Anthony…
The oldest member of my church is 98, the second oldest is 96, many others are clustered between there and 70. It provides a unique perspective to spend a lot of time around people who have seen much of the best and worst this nation and world have to offer. We recently eliminated two of our most senior Sunday school classes – a men’s and a women’s class. The men’s class had to be closed, all but one of its members has passed away. The women’s class still has several, but they decided to merge down with the remaining man. I had a candid conversation with the man, a good friend, and I shared my struggle as a young pastor – how in the world to minister to someone who is the last surviving member of his Sunday school class? These people have wisdom, experience, and grief I have only glimpsed from a distance. But one thing that amazes me about this generation is their faithfulness and steadfastness. They simply will not lie down and be still. They continue to serve (as best they can – another source of grief, not being able to serve the church as they once could!), they continue to attend, they continue – more than ever – to give sacrificially. And when they see another old friend go home, they continue to express thanks to God for an undying hope. It is both heartbreaking and deeply rewarding to watch. One day, sin’s grasp will be completely broken and death will be no more. For the sake of these saints, I look forward to that day.
Chris,
I really appreciate your comments about your older members. You described in a very articulate way how I feel about my older members as well. I went to your church’s website, it looks like you have a very nice church family. Btw I absolutely love that southern architecture red brick with white pillars building you have.
Back in the ’90s, I baptized the oldest convert that I had ever known. He was 91. In fact, since his birthday was the Friday following that Sunday evening when I baptized him, we had a birthday party in the Fellowship Hall to help him celebrate his 92nd birthday. When he made his profession and was baptized (and here I find my memory unsure…a hardship on one who loves history), one of the deacons said out loud, “Praise the Lord.” I think he wanted to go to shouting. In any case, the elderly gentleman who was well liked and respected in the community had a decline in health and wound up in a rest home facility. There he was pretty much bed fast, and so in order to bear witness he would sing. In one instance, he sung Amazing Grace to the relief and comfort of another person in that facility. I found his funeral sermon the other day, “The Awakening Marvel”. Praise God, Indeed!