Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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OLD AGE WITH GRACE

Psalms 71
Even when I am old and gray,
 do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come. (Psalms 71:18)

Today (Sept 16, 2012) we celebrate Senior Citizen’s Sunday. We are focusing on Psalm 71 and the theme selected is “Old Age With Grace.” We recognize our Senior Citizens who are sixty years and over and pay our respects to them. A historical perspective enables us to see the key role that other members have played in Ancient societies. With the emergence of Modern Period in history, the relative importance shifted to childhood and adolescence (or youth hood). It marks a radical change in social relationships, institutions and in various styles of living. After childhood and youth hood, there are the stages of adulthood and old age.

We shall continue our meditation of Psalm 71 by raising couple of questions and selecting relevant ideas from related books. The book is The Virtues of Aging (1998) written by former President Jimmy Carter. Instead of making their life miserable Carter and his wife Rosalynn, started the Carter Center in their hometown Plains, Georgia to do service to the community. Together they found their strength rather than feeling miserable about their defeat for a second term as President. Carter with the support of his family and friends in the area lead a productive life during retirement life. He continued his Sunday School teachings always.

Old age is the time when we develop a sense of wonder and gratitude. Kathleen Fisher in her book Winter Grace discusses “Spirituality and Aging” in one of the Upper Room Books (1998). When we strengthen our spiritual life we are blessed by His grace. It is God’s gift to us when we trust his mighty hands. We have used this book in our study at Senior Citizen Fellowship at St. Thomas MTC, Yonkers NY (one day a month meetings). “Winter reveals those things that summer conceals. We can see farther and with clearer vision.” Winter Grace (p.9). As we read in Psalm 71 v. 18, our goal is to declare God’s power “to the next generations.”

Prayer: We thank God for giving us Psalms and other books in the Bible as well as contemporary books. Thank you God for our retired life. We need strength from you to read and understand the truth. Amen.

Dr. T. M. Thomas, St. Thomas, New York

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