When You Grow Old

Encouraging Truths for Senior Living: When You Grow Old

By: Dr. Leslie Allen, Atherton Resident since 2014

John 21:18

“Truly, truly I say to you, when you were younger, you used to walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you and bring you where you do not wish to go.”

Questions for reflection and application:

• How gracious am I when my independence is challenged?
• How can balance my desire for independence with appropriate requests for help?

Thought for today:

Jesus was talking about Peter losing his independence through imprisonment and martyrdom. But, when I read of somebody else escorting you, I can’t help thinking of the senior experience most of us will eventually succumb to—and of an anticipation of that experience I had four years ago.

I unexpectedly found myself in Urgent Care. I had been speaking to a senior Sunday school class who wanted their pound of flesh, in the form of a whole hour’s teaching. I stood and talked for 55 minutes—then fainted! Paramedics were called and recommended a visit to Urgent Care. There I received a CT-scan, which showed bleeding in the front part of the brain. Did a stroke cause it or my falling forward and knocking my forehead on the lectern? No one knew, but there was no purpose to taking any chances. An ambulance took me the short distance to Huntington Hospital, and I found myself admitted for observation and being wheeled on a gurney to the stroke unit. After two days of testing, the doctors blamed a side effect of a daily medication. I was given a different prescription and assured it wouldn’t happen again.

Even though I felt perfectly able to ambulate on my own, I found myself annoyed because the “rules” required me to call for a nurse to escort me to the bathroom six feet away from my bed. She grasped my arm tightly, in case I fell. Each time I felt like shaking her off. Then I thought, “She is doing a good job looking after this possible stroke victim. Just accept it.” My attitude about allowing someone to help me was overshadowing my appreciation of her care and competence.  Sooner or later, we all need help. I hope I can shake off that initial grumpy resentment when my independence is challenged so that I have the grace to ask for the help when I need it.