My Favorite Senior Moments

by Karen O'Connor

  “But she has wrinkles too,” Heather said, frowning. “I saw them when she was taking a shower.”

  “Heather!” Cindy said, having overheard. “Were you spying on me when I wasn’t looking?”

  “I’m sorry.” The young girl hung her head.

  Cindy slipped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “It’s all right. I’m your mom! But I didn’t know you’d be telling Grandma I’m looking old. I don’t have that many wrinkles, do I?”

  “No. Grandma has more. Does that mean she’s older than you?”

  “Definitely! She’s my mom. Moms come first.”

  “When will you be as old as Grandma?”

  “When you’re as old as I am.”

  Jean quickly changed the subject before Cindy became depressed. “I found a dress!” she exclaimed. “Come and see it!”

  Today’s Thoughts

  You have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.

  PSALM 71:5

  I’m so glad I can turn to you, dear God, as the years pass by or I would feel down about the changes and losses that go with aging. You, Lord, are eternal! And you’ve given me the gift of eternal life, for which I profoundly thank you.

  39

  Making a Mess

  Bonnie and her six-year-old granddaughter, Wendy, assembled the ingredients for their afternoon of baking. Flour, sugar, butter, chocolate chips, baking powder, salt, walnuts, and frosting mix. What fun! Bonnie loved having a few hours with this sweet little girl. They always had a good time turning out a delightful dessert, which they shared with Wendy’s family and Bonnie’s neighbors. Today it would be several batches of cookies… and maybe some fudge with walnuts.

  Bonnie glanced at the clock on the oven: 3:10. They’d better get busy or they wouldn’t be finished by dinnertime. She turned to Wendy. “How about you take out the mixing bowls and find the wooden spatula? I’ll get the measuring cups and spoons.”

  “Got it, Grandma!” Wendy got busy with her task. The phone rang, and Bonnie stepped out of the room to answer it.

  A loud crash interrupted the call. Bonnie dashed into the kitchen. “What’s going on in here? Need some help?” She surveyed her crying granddaughter and the disaster on the tile floor and let out a deep sigh.

  “I’m so sorry, Grandma!” Wendy wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. “I was trying to take out the big bowl from underneath the little bowls, and they all fell.”

  Bonnie took her granddaughter into her arms and patted her blond hair. “It’s okay. They’re just things. We can always buy more.”

  “But I made a terrible mess,” Wendy said. “Now we can’t make our cookies and fudge—and it’s all my fault.”

  Bonnie placed her hands on the little girl’s shoulders and knelt down in front of her. “It’s really okay with me, honey. And it’s okay with God too. He knows we all make mistakes and messes, and he’s here to help us clean them up.”

  Wendy’s eyes brightened. “I get it.” She smiled. “I remember when you told me that God wants us to make a mess with his love by spreading it all around to everyone we meet.”

  “That’s it exactly,” Bonnie responded. “Now let’s go to the store and buy a new set of mixing bowls. We’ve got some baking and loving to do!”

  Today’s Thoughts

  The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.

  NAHUM 1:7

  Thank you, Lord, that no matter how big a mess I make you are here to help me clean it up. How blessed I am to be called your child.

  40

  Save, Save, Save

  Judy and Wayne devoted themselves to saving everything they could for their children and grandchildren’s future. “We’ve also saved on our spending by using coupons,” said Judy.

  “Pretty soon I realized Wayne had gone too far!” shared Judy. “One day I noticed his bottle of Head and Shoulders shampoo was empty, so I tossed it into the trash and replaced it with a new one.”

  The following day when Judy was cleaning the bathtub, the empty shampoo bottle fell into the tub. How strange! she thought. Instead of making a fuss, she simply tossed it out once again and placed the new bottle in a prominent place. Hint! Hint!

  To Judy’s surprise, the next day the empty shampoo container was back in the shower. “Look, Wayne,” she said to her husband, “it’s time to move on. There’s no more shampoo in that old bottle. The garbage truck will be coming by tomorrow, so this is the perfect time to toss it out.”

  “But, Judy, we should save it,” Wayne replied. “Maybe the kids can use it for something we haven’t thought of.”

  Judy sighed and then laughed. “One empty shampoo bottle is not going to save the world or add one whit to our children’s lives. Enough is enough even when it comes to saving for future generations.”

  Today’s Thoughts

  The desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

  PROVERBS 13:4

  I’m looking at diligence, dear God. Sometimes I go overboard and slip into obsession. Keep me focused on you, and help me keep my life in balance.

  41

  Grandpets

  Lillian was a busybody—no question about it. The entire senior community was her domain. Some people referred to her as the “mayor of Harmony Retirement Living” because she made everyone’s business her business. She tracked who died, who was married to whom, which houses were for sale and for how much, and almost everything else. She took charge of the social committee, heading up Bingo Night, the Thanksgiving Potluck, Movie Sunday, and the Summer Barbecue.

  She also had a lot to say about people’s decorating schemes (or lack thereof), the exterior paint color of the houses, and the landscaping. And when it came to garden art, signs on fences and garage doors, or any other bits of artistic endeavors, Lillian couldn’t hold her tongue.

  She nearly met her match when she came up against Roberta, who lived around the corner from her.

  The women collided one afternoon when Lillian was walking her little dog, Rowdy, past Roberta’s house. Rowdy got loose and jumped up against Roberta, causing her to drop the bag of groceries she was carrying. After helping clean up the spilled cans and boxes, Lillian looked up at Roberta’s house and noticed a new sign on the wall by the front window: Grandpets Welcome Here.

  Lillian blurted out her opinion. “Well, that sign doesn’t belong on your house. You don’t even own a pet.”

  “My grandchildren are my pets,” Roberta replied. “They’re soft and cuddly, and they keep me company.”

  Lillian picked up Rowdy and stroked his back. “Well, I’ll be,” she retorted. “That’s the most foolish thing I’ve heard today. You should put up a sign that says “Grandkids Welcome Here” since that’s what you have.”

  Roberta flashed a smile. “But that goes without saying. My door is always open to my grands.”

  Today’s Thoughts

  [The LORD] mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

  PROVERBS 3:34

  It’s hard to swallow people’s unsolicited commentary and advice. Lord, help me practice patience and keep the peace. I want to represent your point of view rather than blurting out my own in situations that really get my goat.

  42

  I Won’t Tell…

  Loretta looked in the mirror and parted her hair with her fingers. Oops! She was behind schedule for a dye job. The gray roots were starting to show. She didn’t want her husband and daughter to remind her that she was getting older. Loretta decided she would call and make an appointment today.

  Just then her four-year-old granddaughter, Katie, walked into the bathroom and stared at her. “What are you doing, Grammie?”

  Startled, Loretta picked up a hairbrush. “Brushing my hair.”

  “You look like Kippy. He has brown and white hair too.”

  Loretta wrinkled her brow. “Who’s Kippy?”

  “Joanie’s dog. He has mostly white with a little bit of brown.
But you have mostly brown with a little bit of white, right?”

  “Well… ”

  “It’s okay, Grammie. I asked Mommy, and she said underneath you have white hair but you don’t like anyone to know. I promise I won’t tell anyone—unless they ask. Then I have to tell the truth ’cause it’s wrong to tell a lie.”

  Grammie smiled and said, “Let’s hope no one asks!”

  “If someone does, I’ll just say you’re old, and then they can figure it out for themselves,” Katie said.

  Today’s Thoughts

  Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

  PROVERBS 16:31

  I don’t have to play guessing games with you, Lord, or try to fool you away from the truth. You know every hair on my head—and its true color—because you made me.

  43

  Humor Helps

  Marylynn and her teenaged grandson, Ben, were involved in a spirited game of 500 Rummy. Tension grew as they came down the homestretch. Grandma checked the score sheet that Ben had taken charge of. The score was 395 to 325, Ben’s favor. He’d won the last time they’d played too, so Marylynn was feeling discouraged. The boy seemed to have passed her up in every way—in height and weight, in knowledge of what was going on in the world, and now in her favorite card game. Her competitive nature was taking a bruising.

  Suddenly during what was surely going to be the final hand in this knock-down, drag-out fight for victory, the lights went out, the clocks stopped, and the fridge no longer hummed in the background. What a spooky scene it was.

  “No worries,” Ben said. “There’s a full moon out tonight. We won’t be in total darkness.”

  Marylynn could tell her grandson was trying to comfort her. Then she realized she’d better change the batteries in her clock on the mantle so they wouldn’t lose track of the time. She excused herself and fumbled her way into the kitchen for fresh batteries.

  Ben came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Grandma, I hate to be the one to break the news, but when there’s a power failure battery-operated machines aren’t affected. Putting new batteries in the cordless clock won’t make a difference.”

  Marylynn was certain her face had turned red, and she was glad Ben couldn’t see it in the dark. “What was I thinking?” she said. “Ben, you are so smart. You even know that when the power goes off batteries keep working. What will you teach me next?”

  The two had a good laugh and then pulled out some candles so they could finish their card game.

  Today’s Thoughts

  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

  PROVERBS 3:5

  Sure enough, when I lean on my human mind instead of trusting you with all my heart, I fail. Help me, Lord, to be quick to turn from my limited knowledge and trust your infinite wisdom.

  44

  Bowled Over

  Luke pored through the contents of the attic in his grandfather’s house. Now that the elderly man had passed on to heaven, Luke knew it would be all right for him to enjoy some of the things his grandfather had left behind. His granddad had given him permission in a letter Luke received on his previous birthday. “Take what you like and sell or give away the rest… ”

  On this particular day, Luke was ready to sort through the remaining items to see which ones he wanted to take home. An old shirt caught his attention. It would be more of a keepsake than something to wear. The cuffs were frayed at the edges, but when Luke held it up he detected a hint of his grandpa’s fragrance—sweet and warm. He set aside the shirt and dug a little deeper. There was an old birthday card from Grandma to Grandpa on his seventy-fifth birthday and a book of poems. Nice!

  At the bottom of a trunk in the corner was an old leather bag. He picked it up. Man, it was heavy. Attached to the outside was a tiny photo of Grandpa’s face. I wonder what this is all about, Luke thought. He unzipped the case. Inside was a gold-flecked bowling ball. What a surprise! Luke laughed out loud. “Wow, Grandpa! I forgot about all those years you bowled on the church league. Cool!”

  Luke picked up the ball and fit his thumb and fingers into the holes. He grasped it with both hands. A good, hefty ball that still had some life. What would the guys at work think of this antique? Well, no time like the present to show this off. Maybe he’d even find a league to join in memory of his dear grandfather who had been a pal, a friend, and a good bowler in his day.

  Today’s Thoughts

  I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them.

  ECCLESIASTES 8:15 NLT

  Lord, thank you for work and for play. May I live a balanced life for your glory.

  45

  Clever Guy

  Six-year-old Tommy pulled down the photo albums from the bottom shelf of the bookcase in his grandmother’s den. He liked to look through them whenever he was bored with TV or video games. He thumbed through the pages while his Grandmother Ann looked on from the desk where she was filing some paperwork. “Gram, can you help me find the pictures of my mom and Uncle Wes and Aunt Chris when they were kids?”

  Ann walked over and picked up the burgundy album. She handed it to Tommy. “I think most of their school pictures are in here.”

  Tommy plopped back on the floor and turned the pages. Each picture was marked with the grade the child was in at the time of the photo. He knew his mom’s by heart. There were nine photos of her—from kindergarten to eighth grade. He counted the ones for Aunt Chris too. They were all there. Then he counted the pictures of Uncle Wes. One was missing. There were only eight pictures.

  “Gram, what happened to Uncle Wes? There’s no picture of him for fifth grade. How weird.”

  “It’s so long ago I don’t remember,” she said. “We’ll have to ask him.”

  “I don’t think we should.”

  “Why not?”

  “He might get embarrassed.”

  “Really? Why do you think that?”

  “Because if he didn’t have a picture taken, maybe he never went to school for fifth grade. Maybe he skipped school and doesn’t want anyone to know it.”

  Today’s Thoughts

  A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.

  ECCLESIASTES 8:1

  Dear Lord, kids do say the oddest things. And I’m so glad they do. Their cute comments and unique questions keep me on my toes. I want to stay alert and active as I grow older.

  46

  Still Together!

  Grandma Frances sliced the pizza and set the pan on the dining-room table while the grandkids, Mickey and Melanie, chose a couple of board games to play. Grandpa Jess poured soda and put out napkins and paper plates.

  “Let the celebration begin!” shouted Mickey. “I’m glad you invited us over for your anniversary.”

  “How long have you been married?” Melanie asked as she glanced at the photo of her grandparents’ wedding day on the mantel.

  “Thirty-nine years,” Frances replied without hesitation. “I met Grandpa when I was 17, and we married when I was 18. Such a long time ago.” She sighed.

  Jess chimed in. “Yep, a long time ago. I remember telling your grandma that I would love her forever and ever. Of course, forever seems pretty huge when you’re a teen like I was. I was 19, and we’d barely graduated from high school and then we were a married couple. I told Grandma we’d grow old together.”

  Mickey piped up. “Well, Grandma and Grandpa, congratulations! You reached your goal.”

  “What goal?” Melanie frowned.

  “Growing old together,” said Mickey. “They made it. Look at them. They’re old, and they did it together. Way to go, guys!”

  He and Grandpa traded high-fives as Grandma laughed. “We did indeed!” she declared.

  Today’s Thoughts

  Each individual among you also is to love
his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

  EPHESIANS 5:33 NASB

  Thank you, Lord, that I am growing old with you at my side!

  Sweets for the Sweet

  47

  A Life Saver

  Roger had a sweet tooth, and he assumed everyone else did too. He delighted in bringing candy to the workers at the rescue mission where he volunteered his time. His generosity, however, was a step toward obesity for some of the women who worked at the compound.

  One disciplined soul named Rita asked Roger for a favor. “Roger, please bring fruit instead of candy. We’re getting too fat munching on all this chocolate and caramel, and they’re bad for our teeth too.”

  Roger had a big heart—and an even bigger desire for people to come to Christ. He loved giving away little surprises––mostly candy––to bless whomever he’d meet during the day. When Rita posed her request, Roger admitted he had to give it some thought. She might not want the candy, but maybe the other women liked it.

  So one Sunday Roger went to the church service the rescue mission held. He put small rolls of Life Savers under the seats of all the church attendees. Then he sat in the back row waiting for some action. He got some, all right. People crowded around him after church asking if he was the “life” saver. He was proud to say “Yes!” He told them he’d felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to give each person a little gift.

  Rita, however, wasn’t so happy. Roger felt her impatience when she approached him after church. “I doubt the Lord would tell you to keep giving people candy that adds weight and cavities. I asked you to bring fruit.”

  Roger smiled, placed a hand on Rita’s shoulder, and quipped in his inimitable style, “But I did, Rita. I took care of you and the other ladies. I gave out candy with fruity flavors.”