I am sitting in another medical center waiting for one more family member to pass away. He is elderly, but all the same, this will be the seventh funeral in twenty-three months. Death is inevitable. When sin entered the world, death became the final byproduct. I am grateful for my relationship with Jesus and for those I love having that same relationship with Him. I begin to wonder if I have reaped all the relational rewards available to me from these elderly relatives.
We all think we want to live for years and enjoy this life here. As I observe an array of elderly people being shuttled from one room to the next, I wonder about the joys of the seasons of life. These seasoned souls have so many years of experiences. Their journey has been long. I am sure it has been riddled with tears and surprises, the mundane, overwhelming joys and sorrows, fears, routines and wonders. They sit here in wheelie chairs waiting, but for what? Do they still long to share their hearts, their lives, their knowledge, their experiences, or their talents with another? There is a reason we are encouraged to share our lives with others. We are to engage the generations before and after us. There is much to learn and much to pass on.
I am likely positioned in the middle of my life. I just had a birthday and with family history, it very well may be just that…the point of looking back and looking forward. My own journey is filled with many experiences, some good and some not so much. I have had people before me that took time to invest in me spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally. In turn, I have invested in others, some related to me and some not, to help promote their development. We are encouraged in scripture to pour ourselves out on behalf of others. Just as I desire to encourage others on their journey, I, too, need others to encourage me, for my path ahead will have new trials and joys that have not been experienced yet. Others can help to guide me. This idea is summed up as mentoring.
I encourage each person to look around and see others in your life that might need our words of wisdom and guidance. Also, observe people from whom you might benefit, by allowing them to speak the same into your life. There is such beauty in relationship. As with anything in life, it comes with its own challenges as well. But, the potential blessings far outweigh the challenges. May you engage and experience these blessings today!
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