Two years ago, I buried our beloved 106-year-old widow, Mrs. Tillie Roberts. There are many lessons that I learned from having this woman for 8 years, but I remembered another when I conducted the funeral that still moves me. The lesson is this: the fruitful effect that children can have on the lives of older people and, likewise, the influence they can have on our children. When I took my family to visit her to see Tillie’s body and say goodbye, something unexpected happened.
We were greeted by members of Tillie’s family whom I had never met, but who somehow knew my children and even their names, because Tillie always told them about his love for my children. Were you very happy to meet them? The kids Tillie always talked about. I began to realize that my children had helped me take care of this woman over the years and bring joy to her life in a way I couldn’t have done visiting Tillie alone. She loved the children very much, but she never had hers. . She loved mine. This is one of the many reasons I loved and enjoyed this woman so much. Reflecting, I also remembered these things:
- 1) Never underestimate the impact of children on the lives of others.
- Who are parents we know that children are a gift from God.
- However.
- It is important for parents to realize that their children are also a gift to others.
- If there are elderly widows in our church whose weeks become very special when a member of the church comes to visit them and takes their children with them.
- I challenge all parents to consider this noble task in their church.
2) It is good for a child to learn to love, to suffer and to say goodbye, I remembered that when I left the visit and my two eldest daughters (then 7 and 10 years old) began to cry, although I do not like to see my daughters crying, it reminded me that Tillie’s affection for them and his affection for Tillie was mutual. These are wonderful times for God to help our children understand death, to be grateful to meet these special people in our lives, and finally to see why we so seriously need the hope of the death of the gospel.
3) This will allow young and old to become aware of the value of each. My burden increases because the local multigenerational church is disappearing in the past. It shouldn’t be like that. The best way to combat this is to grow young and old in Christian love and mutual affection. As she was grateful for Tillie Robert’s contribution to this struggle over the years, as she did not have her own children, she loved him very much. in church as if they were his own. What a gift for me and my family to meet you, Tillie. You have left a faithful legacy that we remember and celebrate after two years. Although you have not left your own children, you have many in our church who have loved you as much as you have loved them and wish to carry the torch. I hope my kids are at the top of the line to take her.
Why should a pastor take his children to visit the elders in his church?The best question seems to be, “Why don’t you accept it?”