Old Men and Old Women
1 Timothy 5:1-2 Don't speak angrily to an older man. But talk to him like he was your father. Treat the younger men like brothers. Treat the older women like mothers. And treat the younger women with respect like sisters.
In some societies, older people are respected, looked up to, valued. In others, they’re thrown on the scrapheap. The older I get, the more I see of the latter rather than the former.
This may sound somewhat old-fashioned, but one of the things I’ve noticed these days, is that many younger people don’t show a whole lot of respect toward older people.
Not all, but many. It’s becoming more and more prevalent to see a young adult in a crowded mall, push past an elderly person who’s not all that steady on their feet.
When I was a lad, on Sunday afternoons we’d visit my grandparents for afternoon tea. It was a family ritual … a cup of tea and something my grandmother had baked fresh that day … and the three generations would just sit around the dining room table and talk.
Now that I’m getting older I look back on those times, and I have to tell you, I really treasure them. They taught me to respect my elders. It was something my parents were really big on.
To this day you know, if someone older than me comes through a doorway or down a corridor, I’ll instinctively step aside for them even if they’re on the wrong side. It’s just what I learned as a lad, I really appreciate my parents teaching me that.
And my hunch is that it’s one of the best things we can ever teach our children and grandchildren. Simple respect.
1 Timothy 5:1-2 Don’t speak angrily to an older man. But talk to him like he was your father. Treat the younger men like brothers. Treat the older women like mothers. And treat the younger women with respect like sisters.
Imagine for a moment how different our world would be, if we taught children to respect their elders. Just imagine.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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