Another day with the Lord brings me reason to Rejoice

Did you ever think that a time would come when your ability to just tie your shoes or stand up without help of another person? Walk into a nursing home, or even visit an elderly parent who has reached that point and your sense of awe no longer has a place before your eyes. For many of those who have reached that golden age there are few signs that appear to shine like gold, you may find a tear or two from your own sense of compassion.

This is not to paint a picture of devastation for our own parents, but it does say a lot about how that magic age is over the top when our bodies and/or our mentality are no longer what they were 40 or 50 years ago. I assure you that very few were looking forward to that point in their lives as one of glee and joy to be welcomed.

Watch a competition of young men or women racing and sometimes at the finish these healthy young racers would catch their breath and allow their muscles an opportunity to relax from all the energy expended. In a short period they are up and laughing at how well they did, whether they won, placed, or barely made it to the finish line.

Within the reality of those seniors one can wonder how well they’ll be today as many will not welcome the rising of the sun and listen to birds chirping as they begin their routine of finding food for themselves and their babies who just came out of their shells. These same seniors can reflect on the days that maybe they threw morsels of bread out for these birds and watched as they hopped around as if to say, “Thank you.” Now each senior struggles to receive food, a shower, or someone who is assisting their efforts to begin another day.

There is a moment when many of our parents, neighbors, or even strangers are able to find solace in the fact that Christ has not forgotten them even though the body doesn’t respond as quickly as it once did. In spite of a slow getting up and greeting the day, the memories of Church attendance, reception of the Holy Eucharist, and the comradery with other parishioners may give these elderly citizens a reason to rejoice in the reality that Christ does care and welcomes their life filled with hope for the day ahead when they will be welcomed into their eternal home with Christ.

Acknowledging that as one of these elderly citizens were also reaching out to people who were seniors that needed a helping hand, a ride to Church, a moment of greeting and assurance that Christ cares about them and the very presence that they gave to their elderly parents or even a stranger. Isn’t it ironic that a young boy and girl who are very vibrant as they mature, will one day be raising their own children who will with certainty be the ones being cared for in their time of need from their children or some stranger. We all are recipients of needing care at some point in life, and Christ has begun the total removal of the sin that could’ve crippled each of us until he became the Savior of his brothers and sisters. His Passion was also a reaching out for us who were in need of picking us up when we were falling because of our weaknesses.

Rejoice, again I say rejoice! Philippians 4: 4 - 8). Your kindness should be known to all.

Ralph B. Hathaway