Shepherds of the Family

Affirming the value, worth, wisdom and contribution of our senior family members is a priority for God. One of the Ten Commandments is to honor your father and mother. There are no expiration dates, and the commandment crosses generations. So the commandment includes honoring fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers, and so on. This directive and insight into God’s values are made clear in Leviticus 19:32: “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God. I am the Lord.” Not only does God affirm aging and maturity, but God has also given seniors a distinct role and calling that they are uniquely qualified to fulfill. God has designed us to live in social/family units. As we mature, we all can pour into those coming behind us. This message of shepherding those coming behind us applies to anyone who is growing older and wiser, even if that shepherd is not a grandparent.