1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your 2 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: host Rachel Adams, author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: to Love God, others, and even yourself. Each week we 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,079 Speaker 1: dive into meaningful conversations about how to live out the 5 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: greatest commandment, loving God with all of our heart, soul, 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,560 Speaker 1: mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves, whether 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,479 Speaker 1: through inspiring stories, practical tips, or biblical truths. I hope 8 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 1: to encourage you to love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect 9 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: God's love in your everyday life. My guest today is 10 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: Isabelle tom Isabelle grew up living with her grandparents and 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: has spent over a decade of her career serving older adults. 12 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: In her book The Value of Wrinkles, she challenges our 13 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: cultural beliefs about aging and teaches us why honoring and 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: caring for those older than us is one of the 15 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 1: greatest privileges we have. So, Isabel Welcome to the Love 16 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: Offering Podcast. I'm so happy to have you. 17 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 2: Hi, Rachel, It's great to be here. 18 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: So your book, The Value of Wrinkles, challenges many of 19 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: the negative cultural beliefs that we have about aging. So 20 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: tell us what inspired you to write this book And 21 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: why do you think that this message is so needed today? 22 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:15,399 Speaker 2: Well, I mean it kind of started when I was born. 23 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 2: I grew up in a multi generational household. So I 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 2: grew up living in a house with my parents, my 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 2: two older sisters, and my grandparents. And I can tell 26 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 2: you I live with in the same household as my 27 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: grandparents until literally when I got married at twenty six, 28 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: moved out. And I think all those years that I 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 2: lived with my grandparents, I can't say that I really 30 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: appreciated living with them, just their presence and the blessing 31 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 2: that they were to me. When I graduated from college, 32 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: I started working in the senior care field and senior 33 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 2: living in all different levels of care. Also ended up 34 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: working in hospice care and my work. As I was 35 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 2: learning at work, all the things that I was learning 36 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 2: about older adults, I start to connect that and look 37 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: back at my own loved ones at home, and I 38 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 2: just realized that God it actually pleased be in a 39 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: really wonderful environment growing up and also professionally, and He 40 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: just blessed me with people around me who to me 41 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: actually reflected what God is like and how He delights 42 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 2: in us, and just loves on us and adores us. 43 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: Well, I'm excited to continue this conversation, but we're going 44 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: to take a brief break to hear a word from 45 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: today's sponsor, and when we come back, we're going to 46 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: talk about what the elderly offer us that we cannot 47 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: live without. Welcome back. We are talking with Isabelle tom 48 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: about the value of wrinkles. So, Isabelle, in our society 49 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: we often separate generations. Seniors live with their own communities 50 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 1: and young people rarely interact with them, and we tend 51 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: to glorify youth. So how has this impacted our culture, families, 52 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: and personal relationships. 53 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: Well, I think when you separate the generations, well, one, 54 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 2: when you are with people your own age, it's easier 55 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: to connect because you have things in common. But when 56 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: you are separated, what happens as you often don't get 57 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 2: the perspective that other generations have. So if you skip 58 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 2: a generation to like my grandparents' generation and older adults, 59 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: what I find and this is in the church and 60 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 2: also outside of the church. You know, when I am 61 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 2: around older adults and when you have a relationship with 62 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: a good number of older people, you start to see 63 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 2: life differently, they talk about different things, and I think 64 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: it helps you to gain a long term perspective. So 65 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: I didn't realize this as a kid, but I would 66 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 2: see my grandparents and I would watch them. They were 67 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: sixty eight and seventy one when I was born, and 68 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 2: by the time they passed there were ninety eight and 69 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 2: one hundred and two. So I didn't intentionally try to 70 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: watch them and learn, but I realized I got to 71 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: watch them as they were nearing the end of life 72 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 2: and declining. And when you see somebody who is let's 73 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: say struggling, let's say walking is no longer easy, that's 74 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: something that you may not see among your peers, you know, 75 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 2: maybe in high school. And none of my peers, yes, 76 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 2: they broke a leg or something, had an injury, and 77 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 2: maybe couldn't play sports, but this was something that was 78 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 2: completely different. I think it has given me a greater 79 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 2: appreciation for what I have. You know, I'm in a 80 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: Bible study with older women and they talk about their 81 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: kidney stones and their back and the surgeries they have 82 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: to have, and it really helps me, I think, appreciate 83 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 2: where God has placed me now. It helps me to 84 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 2: be content with what I have and just gives you 85 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: a long term perspective. So I think that's just one 86 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 2: of the things in terms of when you have this 87 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 2: intergenerational environment, the benefit of it. 88 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. Actually, yesterday I was leaving church and we have 89 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 1: a Thursday morning Bible study and there's an organization that 90 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 1: meets right after us, and it's called the Young at Heart. 91 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, and it is some elderly men and women 92 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: that were coming and they were all bringing in a 93 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: dish and they were also happy. But then there was 94 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: a van that unloaded full of nursing home residents and 95 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: they were all coming out with their walkers and just 96 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: even getting out of the car was difficult. Walking down 97 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: the sidewalk was difficult. They had to have an aid 98 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: And it was such a perspective shift for me that 99 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 1: there's such value in them. And I just was thinking 100 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 1: I don't want to walk faster than them because I'm 101 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,160 Speaker 1: walking down the sidewalk, like would that be disrespectful and 102 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: wanting to open the door for them, But then I 103 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: haven't thought, well, are they wanting to do it themselves. 104 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: It was interesting how just seeing them and witnessing what 105 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: they were doing and how they were walking into the 106 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: room but they were also happy. They were just taking 107 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: their time and not in a hurry and smiling and talkative, 108 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: and I thought, gosh, there's some secrets to life here, 109 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: and it made me want to go to the Young 110 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: at Heart meeting. Yeah, I want to go and sit 111 00:05:35,520 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: with them. And so, as you have sat in those 112 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: rooms and talked with those people, what is it that 113 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: you think that they value the most? 114 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 2: You know, Well, one thing is I think they don't 115 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 2: value things as much. You know, it doesn't matter. You 116 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: can try to find the perfect gift, but somebody who's 117 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: older knows that the value of actual tangible things are 118 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 2: not That doesn't mean that much to them. But I 119 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 2: think as they age, they value good health because that 120 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 2: allows them to be independent. They really value relationships, and 121 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 2: I think that's why family is so important to so 122 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: many older adults. And if they don't have close relationships 123 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 2: with their family, I think that's something that can often 124 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 2: be hard because the number of the amount of social 125 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 2: support that somebody has as they age, it shrinks, and 126 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,480 Speaker 2: so I think that can be difficult because you know, community, 127 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 2: especially in the church, just Christian community is so important 128 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: right for us to be encouraged, for us to grow 129 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: and to not have that, or not have that as much, 130 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: or maybe not to have that as accessible as it 131 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 2: used to be. If you can't drive anymore, maybe if 132 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 2: you're hearing is no longer as good as it used 133 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 2: to be, maybe you aren't able to participate in Bible 134 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: study or conversations as much anymore. And so I think 135 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:56,840 Speaker 2: it's the things that we take for granted that as 136 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 2: somebody gets older, they begin to appreciate more. 137 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 1: Book A Little goes a long way. I tell a 138 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 1: story about my husband's grandmother. Her name is Anne, and 139 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: they moved into a nursing home, not because she needed to. 140 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: She was actually mentally and physically okay, even though she's 141 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: in her nineties, but her husband had Alzheimer's, and so 142 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: they moved into this nursing home and then her husband 143 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: ended up passing away there, and they were there during COVID, 144 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: and as a family, it was just so hard because 145 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: we wanted to support her. And so she texted us 146 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: and she said, I've left my window open if you 147 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 1: want to come and talk. And so we all as 148 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: a family got there, got our lawn chairs and sat 149 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,600 Speaker 1: on the grass, and then she had her window open 150 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: and I just thought how many people there are lonely 151 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: that have their windows open and just longing for someone 152 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: to come and visit and to have a relationship with them. 153 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: And she even sent us a text the other day 154 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: and said, I just really would love a hug right now, 155 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: you know now that we're all able to do that. 156 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 1: And so it is those simple things that I think 157 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: we can love older generation well by just going and 158 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: visiting and maybe even just the physical touch that maybe 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: they're not getting. Do you notice some of that Does 160 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: that resonate any with you? 161 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 2: Absolutely? So. Actually, I just did a talk yesterday at 162 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting for high schoolers. I 163 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 2: tell younger people you have a superpower because, and I 164 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 2: would say, we are considered younger to you know, your 165 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 2: grandparents or even your aging parents. But when you are younger, 166 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 2: you have this ability through very simple gestures to bless 167 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 2: an older person. So just like you were saying, just 168 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 2: saying hello, just giving a hug, and I would say 169 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: even calling a grandparent or an older friend, literally calling 170 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: them for two minutes is going to mean a lot 171 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 2: to them because it means that you stopped, you took 172 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: some time, you paused in your day to recognize and 173 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: acknowledge them. And so, yes, I think it's it's those 174 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 2: little things that are actually very big things. 175 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: I do notice we have been very fortunate in my 176 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: family to have a lot of older generation to just 177 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,839 Speaker 1: pour into us. Yeah, and I often feel guilty because 178 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm not reciprocating as well as i'd 179 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,680 Speaker 1: like to because I feel so busy. But like our 180 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: next door neighbor, her name is Miss Doris, and she's 181 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: in her nineties, and she'll bring us fake goods all 182 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: the time, or letters or gifts for certain holidays. And 183 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 1: then we have an elderly gentleman that we call mister Jim, 184 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: who is also in his nineties, and every time I 185 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 1: see him, he gives me a bath and body works 186 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: lotion because because he walks around the mall and he 187 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: sees something that's on sale and so he'll give it. 188 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: On Sunday mornings, he's always the one that opens the 189 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: door and then he gives me a lotion. Oh my, 190 00:09:38,080 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: I just think it's beautiful to me how giving that 191 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 1: they are and how thoughtful they are. They remember birthdays 192 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,200 Speaker 1: and celebrations, and I always get cards from them and 193 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: even miss Doris next door. She says, every night she 194 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: gets out on her porch and she looks and almost 195 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: makes me ti. She says, she gets out on her 196 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: porch and she looks in our direction, of our home, 197 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: and she says a prayer for us every single night. 198 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 1: And that's our neighbor, you know, that's not even somebody, 199 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 1: that's our family. And so I think, what a gift 200 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:11,319 Speaker 1: to slow down and to be able to be thoughtful 201 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,559 Speaker 1: and so generous with your tongue and with the gifts 202 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: that God's given you is just such a blessing. And 203 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:20,319 Speaker 1: so I guess I would say I have been blessed 204 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: by the older generation and in so many ways, and 205 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: this including my grandparents. I think about the ways and 206 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: the things that they've passed down and makes me think 207 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 1: about what is it that I'm passing down. I don't know. 208 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: Does that evoke any thought into you as I'm talking? 209 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, Well, what it makes me think of is just 210 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:40,319 Speaker 2: older people. I think they all need to be reminded 211 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,840 Speaker 2: of how precious they are in God's sight. You know, 212 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,439 Speaker 2: we think of children that they are precious in God's sight. 213 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 2: But I think even you know, just like you were 214 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 2: saying they have slowed down enough to think of you, 215 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 2: and to me, it reflects the way God looks on 216 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 2: us and how he is slow enough, and if we 217 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 2: slow down, then like we to enjoy that right. And 218 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,480 Speaker 2: so what they have allowed me to do is to 219 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 2: really slow down more like I have three kids, and 220 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 2: I know you have kids. But when I am around 221 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 2: my older friends, especially the older ladies in my Bible study, 222 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: need to perform is no longer there, and I feel 223 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 2: like just me being there is enough, and that to 224 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 2: me is a really beautiful thing. And what it teaches 225 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 2: me is what beauty truly is. And that's something my 226 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 2: grandma taught me. Yes, it's great to be presentable and 227 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 2: look nice and everything like that, but I know one 228 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 2: day my body is also going to fade and is 229 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 2: not going to be as strong as it used to be. 230 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 2: But I'm going to remember that my beauty is not 231 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 2: based on my outward appearance. And I'm going to remember, 232 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,560 Speaker 2: like these ladies in my Bible study and my grandma 233 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:53,040 Speaker 2: and many other older people in my life, they have 234 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:56,720 Speaker 2: shown me what true beauty is. I believe in the 235 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 2: eydes of God, and so I don't feel like I 236 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 2: have to strive as much when I am around them. 237 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 2: So for me, it's almost like a healthy practice, just 238 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 2: like you need to slow down by doing yoga or whatever. 239 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: I really try to make sure that I have people 240 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 2: of all ages in my life, and so I have 241 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: to be more intentional about having older people in my life. 242 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: That's a way that I am able to be things 243 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 2: the way that God often sees it. 244 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I have been fortunate. In our Bible study on Thursdays, 245 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: it's very intergenerational. We have young moms that have just 246 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: had babies in their nursing and then alongside a woman 247 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 1: in her nineties that's like, will we please turn up 248 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 1: the video because I'm here because of my hearing aid, 249 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: you know. And so what's the gift? And that is 250 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: the wisdom, the wisdom that is being able to be shared. 251 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,200 Speaker 1: And some of us young moms will say we're going 252 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 1: through this with our kids or our husbands, and then 253 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: the older ladies will say, well, when I went through that, 254 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 1: this is what we did, and I just I'm so 255 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: thankful and feel lucky that I have that opportunity. And 256 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: so often we use to kind of like split up 257 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: into small groups and then like the younger would gravit 258 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: tight to one side and the older would gravitate to 259 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:07,720 Speaker 1: one side. And they still do that on some level, 260 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: but gosh, we're just we're really trying to bridge the 261 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: gap and to bring you know, a lot of times 262 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: our nine AM services the contemporary service, our eleven AM 263 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: services the traditional and they were never talking, and so 264 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: we've been really intentional about like, gosh, there's such value 265 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: in connecting these two generations. I know that you agree 266 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: with that wholeheartedly. You're really passionate about that concept. 267 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think it's necessarily easy, because, like you said, 268 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:34,360 Speaker 2: you have to be intentional about it. And I think 269 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 2: that is one of the barriers of why we don't 270 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 2: naturally gravitate towards people who are a lot older than 271 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 2: us or a lot younger than us, because we don't 272 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 2: we don't see that we have things in common. It's 273 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 2: just harder to connect. But I think it's more of 274 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 2: like a translation. As a parent, I have to help 275 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,480 Speaker 2: my kids and I try to help younger people, to 276 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 2: help them to connect with the older generation and to 277 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,840 Speaker 2: see that, yeah, you actually have a lot of things 278 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 2: in common. And maybe as a parent, I'm it just 279 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:06,760 Speaker 2: may take me explaining something. Let's say, missus Smith may 280 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,839 Speaker 2: be limping a little bit because she just had a 281 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:11,720 Speaker 2: knee replacement. Isn't that so cool that you can get 282 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 2: a new knee? You know? So it's just sometimes it 283 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:20,800 Speaker 2: takes translation in between a connector to or really intentional 284 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 2: effort to bring the generations together, and also maybe some perseverance. 285 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 2: It may not happen the first time you bring the 286 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 2: services together, it may not happen after three months, but 287 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 2: conversations and relationships do begin to evolve, and there's a 288 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 2: different type of relationship that you can have with somebody 289 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 2: who is much older than you. 290 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. Well, we're going to take another brief break to 291 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,320 Speaker 1: hear a word from today's sponsor, and when we return, 292 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: we're going to continue to talk about some practical ways 293 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: to care for and honor the elderly in our lives. 294 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: So we've kind of touched on this a little bit, 295 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: but I'd love to hear more. I think so many 296 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: of us are kind of unsure about how to care 297 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: for connect with aging loved ones. So what are some 298 00:15:03,560 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: practical ways that you have done that in your own life, 299 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,200 Speaker 1: of how you've shown honor and care and love to 300 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 1: the elderly in your life. Sure there are. 301 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 2: So after publishing my book it's been about five years, 302 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 2: I decided I needed to provide something more practical because 303 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: I think it is something that is harder for people, 304 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,800 Speaker 2: especially if they don't have exposure to a lot of 305 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: older adults. And so one thing that I did is 306 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:32,360 Speaker 2: osta Grandkid Investigator Camp online. And basically, you know, my kids, 307 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 2: they don't live with their grandparents the same way that 308 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: I lived with my grandma and my grandpa, and so 309 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 2: I wanted them to have that same the benefit of 310 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 2: having a relationship with their grandparents. But I realized that 311 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: kids are interested in things that are different than their grandparents. 312 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 2: One of the things is they have a very short 313 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 2: attention span, at least my kids do, and so whenever 314 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 2: they would talk on FaceTime, it would be like this 315 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: dizzying picture of the video, and their grandmothers would be like, WHOA, 316 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 2: I can't handle this. So I came up with this 317 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 2: this grand Kid Investigator Kit, which really it allows kids 318 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: to be the initiators in asking their grandparents questions. You know, 319 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 2: older people, they want to share their story, they want 320 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 2: to share their legacy. But a lot of times it 321 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 2: comes out as a maybe you know a five hour story, 322 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: or you know they're like way, way wa wait, and 323 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:22,480 Speaker 2: then you didn't I didn't tell you this, and maybe 324 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: it's not consolidated enough, so they lose the interests of 325 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,280 Speaker 2: the kids. And so in creating these different missions, so 326 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 2: I have like Operation Marshmallow, Operation time Travel. It allows 327 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 2: kids to hear different sound bites and also to pull 328 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:40,200 Speaker 2: out these details about their grandparents' story or about their grandparents' life, 329 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 2: or about who they are now, things they enjoy now 330 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 2: to the point that they'd understand it. So an example 331 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 2: is I just, uh, there's a young man he's about twelve, 332 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 2: that I brought to visit an older lady at a 333 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: nursing home recently, and he was asking her questions from 334 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: the grandkid investigator kit. The lady said something and he 335 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: was just too he wasn't fast enough to be able 336 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: to write it down paper. He said, hold on, you're 337 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 2: speaking too fast. You're so athletic. And this is like 338 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 2: a ninety two year old lady and she was like, whoa, 339 00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 2: I haven't been called athletic in a while. And the boy, 340 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 2: he responded, he goes, ah, you still got it in you. 341 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 2: And I just feel like by creating a resource like 342 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 2: that to help kids to have those moments and to 343 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 2: bless an older person, I mean, just to be called athletic. 344 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 2: That's just probably something that an older person or anybody 345 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,400 Speaker 2: wants to hear, you know. And it all comes down 346 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,119 Speaker 2: to this, whether you're doing a mission or whatever. I 347 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 2: tell people, when you ask them, you honor them. So 348 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 2: when you ask somebody questions, when you ask an older person, 349 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 2: whether it's how are you doing, that is acknowledging them. 350 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: And so often in this world, I think there were 351 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 2: rushing past them. We're in the store, rushing past them, 352 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:55,440 Speaker 2: we're driving, we're going here and there in this program 353 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 2: and that program, and so just to stop and to 354 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 2: say how are you doing? And if you want to 355 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 2: go deeper, you can ask about their story or you 356 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 2: learn more about them. When you ask them, you are 357 00:18:06,359 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 2: honoring them. And so that's just kind of a motto 358 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 2: that I go by and I try to remind people. 359 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,199 Speaker 1: I love that so much. We both have lots of 360 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 1: loved ones in our lives. It sounds like that are 361 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:18,720 Speaker 1: older and we've been very fortunate in that. But maybe 362 00:18:18,800 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: for the person listening that doesn't have somebody older in 363 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: their life, what advice would you give for them just 364 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: kind of seek out that meaningful connection across generations. 365 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 2: Well, I think just starting to pay attention and see 366 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:35,480 Speaker 2: if there are older people in your congregation. I know 367 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,680 Speaker 2: there are a number of people in our congregations who 368 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 2: they are widowed, or they are single, and maybe they 369 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 2: don't have family. And it doesn't mean they have to 370 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 2: be ninety years old, but anybody older than you. You 371 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,679 Speaker 2: have somebody who is ten years older than me, I 372 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 2: can learn so much from. And that's the same having 373 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 2: children in our lives, right, it really enriches our life. 374 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:00,160 Speaker 2: And I would also say look around in your neighborhood 375 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 2: in our area. If it snows, that's a chance for 376 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 2: our family to be able to serve somebody else or 377 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 2: to see if there is a need. And I think 378 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 2: you mentioned something before about opening the door, and you're wondering, 379 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 2: like should I open the door? Do they want the 380 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: door to be opened? And I always say, just offer 381 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 2: and let them reject you, you know, let them have 382 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,440 Speaker 2: the joy of saying no, I don't need it, thank 383 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 2: you very much, no thanks, but just to be asked 384 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 2: is just a very kind gesture. And then I would 385 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 2: say the last thing is there are senior living communities everywhere. 386 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 2: We have the number of older adults if you look 387 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 2: at the statistics. I don't have the number offhand, but 388 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,120 Speaker 2: the number of older adults that are in our country, 389 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 2: in our world is rapidly, rapidly growing. And so if 390 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 2: you find a senior living community, even the ones that 391 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 2: are marketed as the best, they don't get very many visitors. 392 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 2: I just had a lady who I was working on 393 00:19:53,359 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 2: doing the Grand Kid Investigative program at this nursing home, 394 00:19:56,960 --> 00:19:59,040 Speaker 2: and she said, honestly, we don't even have a lot 395 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 2: of visitors that are family coming to visit. And so 396 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 2: I think those are all opportunities to volunteer and to 397 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 2: be a friend to people who really would appreciate your friendship. 398 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:13,640 Speaker 1: I love that. The reality is is, I guess if 399 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,080 Speaker 1: the Lord allows us to live that long, we will 400 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:18,720 Speaker 1: be in that position some day, and how much would 401 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,200 Speaker 1: we appreciate someone to come and visit and to spend 402 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: time with us and smile. I know I've learned through 403 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: my book A Little goes a long way about significance. 404 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: Once people retire and their children are out of their 405 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: home and their empty nesters and their bodies aren't physically 406 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,160 Speaker 1: able to do what they once were able to do. 407 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: They start to wonder, what is my value? 408 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:37,880 Speaker 2: Yeah? 409 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: And do I still have significance even in this stage 410 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 1: of my life? And of course I wrote it from 411 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:47,679 Speaker 1: a thirty year old's perspective, right in the midst of motherhood. 412 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:52,520 Speaker 1: But I'm finding that the older generation really does struggle 413 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: with this. And so I love the fact that you 414 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: were saying, there's so much value in our wrinkles, And 415 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,119 Speaker 1: I'm already saying wrinkles in myself. So I'm receiving and 416 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:03,600 Speaker 1: this message is avail myself. But I think age is 417 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:05,879 Speaker 1: just something that so many of us may be fear. 418 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: So how would you suggest that we shift our mindset 419 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 1: to embrace aging is a privilege rather than something to dread. 420 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 2: Well, there's a phrase that one of the organizations that 421 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 2: I work with, and they that they use this says, 422 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 2: aging each goal's living. My dad passed away, it's going 423 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:22,199 Speaker 2: to be ten years in April, and if he was 424 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 2: he'd get to live and see his grandchildren. And I 425 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 2: think that's the reality. Sometimes we can complain and say, 426 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 2: oh man, I'm getting wrinkles, my hair is getting white. 427 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 2: This is so hard, but when God gives us another day, 428 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 2: that's a blessing to so to be able to see 429 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: things that way, you know, this is this is definitely 430 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 2: a culture shift that would have to happen. And I think, 431 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 2: you know, I have I have older people who see 432 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 2: the my book and it says the value of wrinkles, 433 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 2: and most often times they laugh at it, And that 434 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 2: to me is really sad because they don't see the 435 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 2: value in themselves. And so it is a mission of 436 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 2: mind not only to help the younger generation to value 437 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,920 Speaker 2: the older generation, but also to help the older generation 438 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 2: to value themselves. And I think that is just a reality. 439 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 2: You know, we have anti aging, Like you can't have 440 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:17,000 Speaker 2: any anti anything these days, right, if you said anti this, 441 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:20,640 Speaker 2: then you are starting a riot. But somehow it's been 442 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 2: allowed that we can say anti aging. Right, And if 443 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 2: you think about the number of products out there that 444 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 2: are anti aging products, people are flocking and billions of 445 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,639 Speaker 2: dollars are put into that, and just imagine how that 446 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 2: makes somebody who's older, how it makes them feel. So 447 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 2: I think that's one of the reasons why it's so 448 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 2: important to stay close to the truth of God's word 449 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 2: and what he says. He says that me and looks 450 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 2: at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 451 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 2: And that's why my older believing friends are really valuable 452 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 2: to me, because they help me remember that love. 453 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 1: That you brought up the Bible. What else does the 454 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 1: Bible say about aging? Is there anything that comes to 455 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 1: your mind regarding the Bible and just this generational concept 456 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: that we're talking about. 457 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, so you know, I've read the typical verses about 458 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,000 Speaker 2: wisdom and everything like that, but I wanted to read 459 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 2: to you one Timothy five four because it really convicted me. 460 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,040 Speaker 2: It says, but if a widow has children or grandchildren, 461 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 2: these should learn first of all, to put their religion 462 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 2: into practice by caring for their own family and so 463 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:24,399 Speaker 2: repaying their parents and grandparents for this is pleasing to God. 464 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,520 Speaker 2: And that really convicted me because my mother in law 465 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 2: and my mom are now widows. And then the part 466 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 2: that talks about grandchildren. As an adult child, I need 467 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 2: to first make sure that I can do all these 468 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:40,280 Speaker 2: glamorous things with my book and go out and speak, 469 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 2: but I need to remember to honor my own parents. 470 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 2: And then it caught me that it says grandchildren, because 471 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 2: I think a lot of times kids they think that. 472 00:23:49,840 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 2: In the church, they often think, Oh, I've got to 473 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,119 Speaker 2: become a missionary. I've got to wait till i can drive, 474 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:56,360 Speaker 2: I've got to go to a third world country. I've 475 00:23:56,359 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 2: got to become a pastor to please God and to 476 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,359 Speaker 2: do his work. But right here it says that if 477 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 2: a widow has children or grandchildren, and I don't know 478 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 2: very many places in the Bible where it talks about 479 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:10,879 Speaker 2: grandchildren this specifically with the command and it says you 480 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 2: should care for your own family. And so that's why 481 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 2: when I talk to grandchildren specifically in the church, I 482 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 2: remind them that when you honor your grandparents, when you 483 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 2: care for them, when you send them a card, guess 484 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 2: what you are pleasing God. It is so easy to do. 485 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 2: It's a very simple gesture. Even just asking your grandparent 486 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 2: to sit next to you, or giving them a gift, 487 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 2: a very simple gift for the holidays or for their birthday. 488 00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 2: You're pleasing God when you do that. 489 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 1: What a beautiful thought. Yeah, I think that goes into 490 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 1: the I've been asking all my guests this season. Is 491 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,800 Speaker 1: there a biblical concept of love that you think applies 492 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: to this topic. And I think that you answered that 493 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,560 Speaker 1: pretty well. But is there anything else that you'd like 494 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: to add to that. 495 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 2: I think it's a way to worship God. This is 496 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 2: a way to life of Him with all our hearts, soul, 497 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 2: and mind. And I think there is blessing that comes 498 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 2: from loving our elders. There's blessing that comes from it. 499 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,440 Speaker 2: Not only does it please God, but He has us 500 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 2: to do that because that relationship that you have with 501 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 2: your family, that's something that we will cherish. You know, 502 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 2: it's something worth investing your time in. 503 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:23,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, Well, Isabelle, is there something that you are 504 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 1: loving right now? 505 00:25:25,119 --> 00:25:28,119 Speaker 2: I'm loving that the sun is starting to shine again. 506 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 2: It has been like a cold and very to me, 507 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 2: a dreary time and I'm waiting for spring me too. 508 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 1: It's the same here in Kentucky and the sun is 509 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 1: peeking out today and I'm thanking the Lord for that too. Well, 510 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 1: So I know I want to stay connected with you. 511 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:44,239 Speaker 1: I'm sure listeners are going to want to They're going 512 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: to want to pick up your your resources, So tell 513 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: us how we can best do that. 514 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 2: Sure, So I had mentioned the grand Kid Investigator kit. 515 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 2: If anybody wants to get a free mission, they can 516 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 2: do that by going to value of wrinkles dot com 517 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,600 Speaker 2: slash free Mission. And I'm also on Instagram at isabel c. Tom. 518 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 2: They can go to my websites value of wrinkles dot com. 519 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 2: There are a lot of ways to connect with me. 520 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 1: Awesome. Well, I will be sure to include those in 521 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,880 Speaker 1: the show notes. Would you pray for us as we close? Sure? 522 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:16,679 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Lord God, I thank you for this time, and 523 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:18,919 Speaker 2: I thank you for the listeners of this podcast. I 524 00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 2: pray that today's episode would just remind them and open 525 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 2: their eyes to the older people around them. And I 526 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 2: pray that you would use the older people around us, 527 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:30,719 Speaker 2: especially the older believers around us, to show us the 528 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:32,760 Speaker 2: way that you look down on us, the way that 529 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 2: you adore us and delight us. So I just thank 530 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 2: you that you give us people of all generations, help 531 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 2: us to lean into those relationships and really love the 532 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 2: older people and the older loved ones in our lives. 533 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 2: Well in Jesus name, Amen. 534 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 1: Amen, Isabelle, thank you so much for being my guest today, 535 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 1: and thank you everyone for tuning in to the Love 536 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 1: Offering podcast. If this episode resonated with you, I encourage 537 00:26:59,920 --> 00:27:02,399 Speaker 1: you to go grab a copy of the Value of 538 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: Wrinkles and begin to cultivate deeper relationships with the elderly 539 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 1: in your life. There's so much we can learn from them, 540 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:11,000 Speaker 1: and they have so much love and wisdom to offer us. 541 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: Let's continue spreading love together, and until next time, let's 542 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: go live and love well.