The Older The Wiser

 

My grandma used to say, "when your going through something hard, always remember that someone has it much worse." 

That's so true. This situation we're in makes me think of others who have or have had it much worse than me. 

Things I think about are things like, people that are unjustly in prison, war torn countries where when they walk out the door they're in fear for them and their loved ones lives, people that went through the holocaust, prisoners of war, fighting in combat, refugees that were/are fleeing for their lives, parents that don't know where their child is because they were abducted, people in 3rd world countries that would give anything to be where we're at, even now, because they go through much harder things on a daily basis. The list goes on and on.

There's always so much to be thankful for and so good to see things half full instead of half empty. 

An elderly client of mine (in her 80's) told me that suffering makes you a better person. It gives you more empathy she says. She's been through an incredible amount of heartache in her life, as most people do when they are up in age. She always said, "I dont know what I would do without the Lord. He has helped me through so much". She also said that time makes things a lot easier. 

I went to see my parents yesterday (in their backyard w/ social distance 😊) and I was bouncing some things off my Mom that people were arguing about on social media. I wanted to know her thoughts.

She briefly gave me her thoughts but bounced back to her calm demeanor and said that she doesn't want to spend her days stressed out about what's going on. She said there's only so much she could control and that she's just enjoying time to relax, spending more time reading the bible, reading etc.... And she said if something did happen to her during this time she would rather spend her days being happy and being loving towards others instead of stressed out, debating and arguing.

Elderly people have a much more balanced perspective in life. 

Thinking about these 3 conversations I had with my grandma, Mom, and elderly client, it brings me peace. 

I like to hear people that have been through a lot yet have peace and calmness through hard times. They have this peace and calmness because they've been through hard times before.

Its neat how we can get in a situation and God will bring what someone said to mind from a long time ago. At the time it was said sometimes it doesn't impact us as much as it does much later. When we can relate a little better.

Trying to stay thankful and to just continue to hang on to the Lord in all things.

Because another thing is, who likes to be around someone who is complaining, ungrateful, and negative. It's the most grating thing to be around. 

I dont want to be that way 😬.

I was also thinking it would be a neat to talk to our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, or an elderly person, and ask them what kind of hard things they've been through. Whether it be about the great depression,  war times, or just whatever. How did they feel? What encouraged them through it? What did they do to help them get through it? etc... 

I feel like so many times we can listen to their stories of the past, but many times we can't relate to what they've been through. But when we go through tough times ourselves their insight is golden, we make a connection with them, and we can better understand and empathize with them ❤