Honouring the Elderly
It has been my privilege to be the Administrator of Thembela Eventide Home for 7 and half years. Thembela is a residential home for pensioners where they are treated with dignity, respect and love. My desire has always been to make Thembela a ‘happy’ home with a loving atmosphere. We ensure they have lots of activities, good wholesome meals and quality care.
We meet the needs of the whole person, caring for these vulnerable pensioners both physically and spiritually in the name of Jesus. Some have accepted the Lord as their Saviour which has made my heart so happy. We have been there for many as they have journeyed to the end of their physical lives on earth, singing to them and praying with them in order to help ease their transition peacefully.
It has been my mission to make sure they hear the Gospel very clearly, so that they are able to make the choice of where to spend eternity for themselves. We have reminded them in our daily devotions and church services that Isaiah 46:4 says “Even to your old age and grey hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
One of the most difficult aspects we have had to deal with has been the sadness of a few due to neglect, or even abuse by families who just leave their elderly parent or family member in our care and that’s it. Loneliness is very painful, especially for those who have lost a spouse, have no family, or their family is far away. 1 Timothy 5:1-2 reminds us “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat ….. older women as mothers’. Please don’t only care for the elderly on International Elder’s day, but remember them every day! Do something to brighten an elderly person’s day. It doesn’t have to cost money. Just a call, a Whatsapp, or even a visit would mean the world. Spend quality time with them to show you really care.
Leviticus 19:32 also reminds us to “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly”. Please young people, honour and respect the elderly. Even if their minds are not the same due to dementia or some illness.
Psalm 71:9 is a prayer many of our elderly would pray to God but also to friends and family. “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”
Tia Walker once said ‘to care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours’.
