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My sweet senior mom-in-law loves to say, “Growing old ain’t for sissies!” As a member of the baby boomer generation, flirting with senior citizen status, I have to agree with her. Arthritis flare-ups, hip replacement surgery and recovery for loved ones, cataract surgery, Parkinsons Disease, Alzheimers Disease with dementia symptoms, sleep apnea – that’s just a PARTIAL list of things my senior relatives have had to deal with over the last few years. I just have the arthritis at the moment, but sometimes I can’t help thinking (worrying?) about what could be coming. Every time I do though, God reminds me of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12!
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Talk about encouraging Bible verses for all of us in the Sandwich Generation – young as well as old! Yes, this electric powered medical mobility scooter can give “strength” to our weak parents, but CHRIST can BE our strength! AWESOME!
And you know, it’s not just our aging parents who are dealing with severe health issues. I bet most of us have at least one friend or relative with one or more children dealing with major health issues – from cancer to autism to extreme food allergies and intolerances to learning difficulties and beyond. I know I do! Not only that. Did you notice the words “with insults…with persecutions…with difficulties? That definitely applies to caregivers as well – especially those dealing with senior parents with dementia symptoms!
Whatever our age or situation, we know we can rest in the power of Christ – for truly, when we are weak, THEN we are strong in the strength of the Lord as we rest in Him and HIS power. As Paul tells us in Ephesians 1, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ!”Â
For more uplifting Bible verses to encourage all of us caring for elderly parents while raising children or babysitting grandchildren, be sure to visit Internet Cafe Devotions. And…
Powerful reminder and encouragement, I’m just in my early 30s, I feel that I’m getting older, I’m no longer as energetic as before, when i was in my 20s. I felt like I was a superwoman then. I thank Him for His strength though.
I am using the supermarket trolley to hide the fact that I really should be using a wheeler………but I am so thankful for His strength to carry me.
God help those who are in pain and who are afflicted. My Aunt uses the same quote about growing old.
My Daddy has definitely done it with great grace. He never complains and fights to maintain his independence.
We definitely need Jesus in every stage of our lives.
Love,
Beth
Strength for the Sandwich Generation Family Is Found in Jesus Christ http://bit.ly/oWpQnG
A great verse. I’m in the senor citizens part as well as my husband. God has been so good to us. Some of the things you listed are in my mother’s side of the family so I’m praying that God will be merciful to me and I won’t walk in their footsteps.
Blessings Kaye, ohhh what precious promises and such a creative way to effectively speak for and to all of us about what ails us but can’t keep us down… Love that MIL expression and I truly believe it!
NOW this is POWER! Both the verses and your message besides the scooter! I am so thankful that “when we are weak, He is strong” and “His Grace is enough”! You are so right, from the young to the old,the full gamet is struggling with health issues. Our adopted daughter’s son was diagnosed with autism at 2 (hopefully treating him early and the special schooling he had helped him) and she had LUPUS in her teens. Yes, life is tough and getting old is definitely not for sissies. That’s probably why I don’t do so well, but with God’s help, “all things are possible.”
Thanks Kaye for such a great and helpful post! Thanking God for whatever strength He enables me to have.
Peace,
Peggy
I have been blessed thus far with good health, but just last week required a minor surgical procedure…then I had to return for repeat films after my mammogram…. frustrating, to say the least, but all is well.
I’m comforted by the fact that no matter what happens, God holds me in the palm of His hand.
Great illustration of for the verse.
Blessings,
Joan
Lady! You NEVER cease to amaze me with your creativity! This is FANTASTIC! What a way to look at it! I’ll be bookmarking this one! You simply are awesome!
I know that feeling jhunnelle. It doesn’t get easier by the time you reach your 50s – but like you wisely pointed out, you realize more and more how awesome God is and how much we need to rely on Him.
Great idea Jane. My senior mom does the same – only it was in lieu of her cane. The one caveat to that is to make sure you get the cane out of the cart when you are done shopping, as we have learned a couple of times.
Oh Beth, that was my senior dad as well – especially as he progressed to end stage Parkinsons Disease. i was always so proud of how hard he worked to stay independent. One of my favorite memories is of him sitting at the kitchen table, reading his large print Bible – in spite of his macular degeneration! A great example for us. 🙂
Oh Alice – you and me both!! 🙂
Awww Peggy, thank you so much. But it sure seems to me like you are doing great! 🙂 And I keep clinging to the fact that I can do ALL things IN CHRIST Who gives me His strength. 🙂
Praise God it wasn’t too bad, Joan! That’s GREAT news 🙂 And oh yes! PRAISE GOD he truly holds us in His hands! 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you Lori – for the sweet words of encouragement. You always put a big smile on my face. 🙂 🙂 🙂