Devotional -Snapshot 33 - Old Age

"We must humbly accept all that God's order requires us to do and suffer. What He ordains for us each moment is what is most holy, best, and most divine for us." Jean-Pierre di Caussade Devotional Classics

"Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you." Isaiah 46:4

Ruth was old and her mind was going. Paul was old and his body was weakening. They lived in a nursing home together. They had been married sixty years.

Paul was quiet. He wanted to be home, he knew he wasn't. Ruth was demanding. She wanted to be home, sometimes she thought she was. In and out of reality, she was a young mother calling her children into dinner -her withered hands reaching out in the air to some imaginary task they used to do. Pain brought her back. Her eyes focused in on her husband and she asked -no, commanded that he come rub her neck.

Slowly Paul rose from his comfortable chair. One foot at a time he shuffled to her and began to massage her neck. That didn't satisfy her. She began to ramble: "You can go away now...Go fix supper...Call the kids in."

Instead of leaving hurt and confused Paul moved closer to his wife. Leaning his face gently near her's, he whispered: "I believe I'm going to kiss you now." While she continued to mumble, he moved closer and closer till at last his thin blue lips lightly touched her's. Immediately her ramblings stopped and for a moment Ruth looked into Paul's eyes and smiled.

Her fidgety hands now lay quietly on her lap. She no longer needed to take care of the children or fix the supper. She watched him move carefully back to his chair. Her face was flushed with the touch of love. It brought her back and calmed her down. It helped her remember who she was and that he was still here with her. And Paul -well, he had a rosy school-boy smirk on his face as if to say he still had what it takes. And he did.

Why did I tell this true story? Why do I remember it? Because it reminds me that even in old age, God does not forget us. He remembers we need to love and be loved until it is time to go home.

Thank God now for His kindness to us at every stage of our life.