By Frank Ouimette
These days, many people tend to look on
the older generations as a burden. They think these old-timers are
old-fashioned in their ways and in their thinking. Inefficient, slow,
obsolete.
But in thinking this way, they miss the
fact the older generation has a lot of experience in life’s trials
and opportunities and have much to offer to the rising generation.
See what Job says in the Old Testament:
JOB 12: 12-13
“With the ancient is wisdom; and in
length of days understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he
hath counsel and understanding.” (Job 12:12-13)
Be close to your parents and
grandparents. They can help you more than you realize.
Young women should be close to older
women because of their knowledge and experience and learn the ways
that have been passed down through the generations that sometimes
work when modern ways don’t.
Young men should be close to the older
men because they have gone through many things that you have not yet
experienced in your own lives, but soon may. They can help you avoid
mistakes that will affect your lives and show you how to choose a
better way.
“But speak thou the things which
become sound doctrine:
That the aged men be sober, grave,
temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
The aged women likewise, that they be
in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to
much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to
be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at
home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be
not blasphemed.
Young men likewise exhort to be sober
minded.
In all things shewing thyself a pattern
of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity,
sincerity.” (Titus 2:1-7)
They love you and know that the future
of the world and the church are in your hands.
Don’t re-invent the wheel when it is
already made and perfected.
If you do not have your grandfathers
and grandmothers near you, look for neighbors and local people who
are older to be friends with. Most will have experience and advice
you will need in your life.
Watch how they live. They don’t jump
first then think after. Things are planned out.
They may be the kind of people who know
how to save a nest egg for the future, have food storage advice, be
able to fix things in a way that you do not have to go and buy, and
see what is coming in the world and prepare for it.
You will find someday that what you
think was a burden now; you will look back and find that it really
was a blessing to you.
Parents and grandparents often worry
about their children and grandchildren, which is good, because it
shows they care, but the older generation should also remember that
their progenies are the Lord’s children also and that He wants each
to gain the experience of this mortal probation, sometimes away from
their parents and grandparents.
They have come here for their test and
to learn on their own in many cases. That is why they need to leave
their father and mothers and experience life alone or with their
spouse and children.
Below is one of the 10 Commandments
that we will be judged for obeying or disobeying:
“Honor thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee.” (Exodus 20:12)
Even though older people have served in
many capacities in their communities, and are eventually released
from those duties, they are never released from the Gospel. They
must live it, teach it, and become who the Lord wanted them to become
through the experiences they learn in mortality.
The greatest goal of all is to
strengthen your family and seal the generations together to be part
of God’s eternal family.