Patience with the Elderly

Copyright 2012: singeronthesand

Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man.

Talk to him as you would your own father,

and to the younger men as your brothers.

Reverently honor an older woman as you would

your mother, and the younger women as sisters.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 [The Message]

A few weeks ago, our associate minister's wife came to the early service rather than the later one, and sat down in the right center back row where she always sits, choosing the seat at the end of the pew closest to the center aisle.  Enter stage left an elderly gentleman in his 90's, who has sat in that exact seat for as many years as he can remember. I have no idea what was going through his head, but all he could do was stand and glare (think Snoopy on top of his dog house pretending to be a vulture) at this person who was sitting where he belonged.  My friend finally realized that someone was staring at her, looked up, and asked, "Is something wrong?"  She was then informed that yes, something was wrong, because she was sitting in his seat.  She graciously got up and moved to a different section, and he sat down, pleased, I'm sure, that he was now in his rightful place.

My friend voiced a very valid question to me after the service, concerned as to what might have been the reaction if a visitor had sat down in this gentleman's seat.  I grinned and suggested that it was impossible to miss the fact that you were dealing with a very elderly person when you spoke to this man.  Hopefully, any visitor to the church would be willing to scoot over and let a super-senior citizen have his comfort zone.

Some time during the 80's or 90's age range, human beings appear to receive a pair of invisible blinders that limit their vision to only their own wants, needs and topics of conversation.  It can be exasperating to deal with the older woman who thinks you should speak welcoming words to only her the very second you enter the room, or the elderly gentleman who wants a "hug" (read: full body slam).  Paul's advice to Timothy to regard such individuals as the elderly mother or father that you love, and have patience with their foibles, is good counsel for all of us.