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People in Their
Senior Years Typically Suffer Much Neglect
Christmas
is a time when most people make an effort to come together with
their families. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed having our son
and his wife, Stephen and Christy, in our home during Christmas.
However, Stephen and Christy also went to south Jackson and picked
up my two senior twin aunts, Miss Vera and Miss Vira Evans, and
brought them along to our Christmas celebration at our home in
Decaturville. Later in the day, we all went to visit my mother,
Mrs. Ruth Sanders, in Decatur County Manor Nursing Center in Parsons.
My Aunt Vera and Aunt Vira are sisters to my mother. Because it
is difficult for them to travel, it is very rare when my twin
aunts and my mother are able visit one another. It was a joy for
the rest of us to see the three of them get together and spend
some time with one another on Christmas Day. I was reminded of
the fact that our dear and precious senior family members are
a special part of our families, and we should be extremely careful
not to neglect them.
When
I became pastor at First Baptist Church in Decaturville, the members
here asked me to make it a priority to spend a great deal of time
in nursing home ministry. I was very glad to make that commitment,
and I appreciate the fact that my church allows me to spend the
better part of a day each week to go to the local nursing homes
and visit family members and friends of our church members. One
of my deacons, Mr. Bill Wright, meets me nearly every Tuesday
morning, and we go to Decatur County Manor, in Parsons, where
I preach a morning devotional message, and we visit Westwood,
in Decaturville, as well. Also, in the last week of each month,
a number of our church members go to Westwood in Decaturville
to help the residents enjoy a bingo party, and they have a wonderful
time. However, it grieves me because there is no way we have the
time to visit all of the many dozens of residents in each of these
nursing centers. I have been told that there are vast numbers
of nursing home residents who never receive any company over long
periods of time. It is estimated by at least one source of information
that as many as 85% of residents in nursing homes over the nation
will not receive any guests on Christmas Day, and most of the
rest of the year, for that matter.
I
have done a lot of harping about the selfishness of our generation
in America over such issues as abortion and other ethical concerns.
Neglecting our senior family members is another one of those big
issues. I have heard of a number of people who put their elderly
mothers or fathers in nursing homes and then live across country
from them, rarely, if ever checking on them. I am sure that such
circumstances cannot be avoided in many cases. However, I am convinced
that there are many cases in which such neglect of senior family
members takes place simply because people are “too busy”
with their own careers, their social lives, their hobbies, or
their own interests. None of us spend as much time as we want
with those dear family members in nursing centers. However, when
a person goes for weeks or months at a time without paying that
elderly father or mother a visit, it can be an extremely painful
and life degrading experience for that senior family member.
There
are some wicked influences abroad today that are so reprobate,
that they would suggest that when a person becomes elderly and
feeble that they should be given no time or attention at all,
but should be left alone. I cannot stress how severely God Almighty
will render judgment on people who endorse such evil. Although
the vast majority of us would insist we would never go along with
such wickedness, many of us tend to live our lives in such a way
that we take no thought for the many feeble seniors who live in
nursing care.
I
challenge you to make 2007 a year in which you will bless some
senior in residence with your time and attention. If you have
a mother, father, aunt, uncle, or some other family member who
is in long term nursing care, then make a personal commitment
that you will pay a weekly visit to that dear family member. If
you don’t have such a family member or friend, then talk
to your pastor or pay a visit to the social director or activities
director of one of our fine local nursing homes. They will make
you acquainted with some dear resident senior who will cherish
your company and your friendship. Take my word for it; nothing
can be any more rewarding than coming to know a dear precious
senior citizen who will love you and look forward to seeing you
on a regular basis. “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary
head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I
am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:32)
James
Sanders
Pastor,
sandersjc@yahoo.com
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