The world around us is changing - again. It has changed many many times in the past so this is no different. The only difference is, it is happening when we have more invested in this world than we ever had. How so? We are older, we no doubt have a spouse now and possibly children. Some of us may have grandchildren. Things we didn't have when we were younger and therefore, life was much easier to handle.
With these added loved ones in our lives, come additional worry, concern, and responsibility. It is not until we are parents ourselves that we realize what is at risk when the world has problems. For example, we worry about the futures of our children and grandchildren - will they be free? We are concerned that health care may deteriorate and our children and grandchildren will suffer more - will they live long lives? We have responsibility to take part in the voting process, voicing our opinions, and teaching our children and grandchildren how to survive certain world issues.
However, as stated earlier, this is not the first time the world has changed and it won't be the last. While much of life changes day to day, some things never change - God, for example. He is still accessible with the same mode of communication, prayer, as always.
With the fourth of July behind us, let us not forget what it meant. Let us remember that the American people have always been strong, always been fighters, and always come out stronger in the end. It is up to us to teach the younger generation about how to handle disappointment, both in personal life and in political life. Things are not always going to go our way, sometimes it goes in the complete opposite direction. We must teach the younger generations how to roll with it and how to keep their faith through it all.
As Over 50s, we have a huge responsibility to pass our knowledge of the world around us on to our children and grandchildren. If left to less experienced people, the media, or their peers, they will not faire very well. They will expect the conflict to end quickly and will have no idea of the risks or consequences of their actions towards these world events. That's why we are so important. That's why we much take care of ourselves to ensure we live long lives so that we can pass this on to the younger generations.
No doubt many of you are saying "but they don't listen", "they think they know everything", or "the media controls their minds". Maybe because of the internet, television, and other modern communication progress it will be more difficult, let' not forget one thing - every generation has felt the same way. Every generation thinks the younger generation is lost, too wild, and doesn't listen to us. This has been the same since the beginning. While some of these have true in the past and are still true today, there are some who do listen and heed warnings. They may not act or respond like they are listening to you, but they are.
We much be vigilant and available if we hope to help them at all. The Bible says that older women and men are to instruct the younger women and men:
Titus 2:3-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers,
not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works;
in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[a]
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned,
that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.[b]
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters,
to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity,
that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
This hasn't changed. What has changed, is the over 50 crowd has accepted that youth is more valuable than age. The media has been driving this message for years. If you are over forty, you are old and of no value. It's up to us to change their thinking.
In closing, this fourth of July holiday week, I leave you with a challenge...
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
(Mahatma Gandhi)
Eat right and exercise, don't smoke and limit alcoholic drinks, be happy so that you can live a long and healthy life in order to pass your knowledge on to your family and friends. Stay on top of current events, participate when you can (voting, writing your congressmen and women, etc.), and never stop teaching others.
Never complain about how many days we celebrate the fourth of July....this country has earned it's freedom through the lives (and deaths) of many soldiers. We should never be tired of celebrating our independence. If we celebrate every day of the year, it would never be enough to repay what we have lost or risked in order to preserve the freedoms we enjoy every day of our life given to us through the Declaration of Independence.
“You must not lose faith in humanity.
Humanity is an ocean;
if a few drops of the ocean are dirty,
the ocean does not become dirty.”
(Mahatma Gandhi)
What do you do to celebrate the fourth of July? Do your children and grandchildren know the significance of the Declaration of Independence? Are you teaching others how to survive a changing world? Share your stories, you may be helping someone else even if you never know it.
XOXO
With these added loved ones in our lives, come additional worry, concern, and responsibility. It is not until we are parents ourselves that we realize what is at risk when the world has problems. For example, we worry about the futures of our children and grandchildren - will they be free? We are concerned that health care may deteriorate and our children and grandchildren will suffer more - will they live long lives? We have responsibility to take part in the voting process, voicing our opinions, and teaching our children and grandchildren how to survive certain world issues.
However, as stated earlier, this is not the first time the world has changed and it won't be the last. While much of life changes day to day, some things never change - God, for example. He is still accessible with the same mode of communication, prayer, as always.
With the fourth of July behind us, let us not forget what it meant. Let us remember that the American people have always been strong, always been fighters, and always come out stronger in the end. It is up to us to teach the younger generation about how to handle disappointment, both in personal life and in political life. Things are not always going to go our way, sometimes it goes in the complete opposite direction. We must teach the younger generations how to roll with it and how to keep their faith through it all.
As Over 50s, we have a huge responsibility to pass our knowledge of the world around us on to our children and grandchildren. If left to less experienced people, the media, or their peers, they will not faire very well. They will expect the conflict to end quickly and will have no idea of the risks or consequences of their actions towards these world events. That's why we are so important. That's why we much take care of ourselves to ensure we live long lives so that we can pass this on to the younger generations.
No doubt many of you are saying "but they don't listen", "they think they know everything", or "the media controls their minds". Maybe because of the internet, television, and other modern communication progress it will be more difficult, let' not forget one thing - every generation has felt the same way. Every generation thinks the younger generation is lost, too wild, and doesn't listen to us. This has been the same since the beginning. While some of these have true in the past and are still true today, there are some who do listen and heed warnings. They may not act or respond like they are listening to you, but they are.
We much be vigilant and available if we hope to help them at all. The Bible says that older women and men are to instruct the younger women and men:
Titus 2:3-10 New King James Version (NKJV)
3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers,
not given to much wine, teachers of good things—
4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded,
7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works;
in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[a]
8 sound speech that cannot be condemned,
that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.[b]
9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters,
to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity,
that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.
This hasn't changed. What has changed, is the over 50 crowd has accepted that youth is more valuable than age. The media has been driving this message for years. If you are over forty, you are old and of no value. It's up to us to change their thinking.
In closing, this fourth of July holiday week, I leave you with a challenge...
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
(Mahatma Gandhi)
Eat right and exercise, don't smoke and limit alcoholic drinks, be happy so that you can live a long and healthy life in order to pass your knowledge on to your family and friends. Stay on top of current events, participate when you can (voting, writing your congressmen and women, etc.), and never stop teaching others.
Never complain about how many days we celebrate the fourth of July....this country has earned it's freedom through the lives (and deaths) of many soldiers. We should never be tired of celebrating our independence. If we celebrate every day of the year, it would never be enough to repay what we have lost or risked in order to preserve the freedoms we enjoy every day of our life given to us through the Declaration of Independence.
“You must not lose faith in humanity.
Humanity is an ocean;
if a few drops of the ocean are dirty,
the ocean does not become dirty.”
(Mahatma Gandhi)
What do you do to celebrate the fourth of July? Do your children and grandchildren know the significance of the Declaration of Independence? Are you teaching others how to survive a changing world? Share your stories, you may be helping someone else even if you never know it.
XOXO
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