Called To Protect

Called to Protect

[Love] always protects.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NIV)

The old woman sat across from me, her face a map of wrinkles. Her concerns weighed heavily on her. “It’s time for my children to care for me,” she said with a sigh. “But when I talk to them, they have such busy lives.”

In everyday life there are things we protect. We protect our credit cards from identity thieves. We protect our homes with locks. We protect our pets by taking them to the veterinarian. But what about the elderly people in our lives? How well do we protect those who have cared for us in so many ways? Nursing homes are filled with men and women who feel alone and abandoned. And while there are many elderly people who need constant care, many others still have much to offer to those who need their wisdom and guidance.

In the Amish community, caring for the elderly is considered biblical and appropriate. The elderly are respected for their knowledge and traditional values. There is also an advantage to having Grandma or Grandpa living in your home. They are joyful participants in their grandchildren’s lives and help to provide stability in Amish society.

What if the Amish didn’t take their commitment to fulfilling this role seriously? In an extended-care facility, Amish seniors would encounter modern conveniences such as television, phones, and electricity. They would not be able to spend significant time with their families. Building a relationship requires face-to-face contact, and the Amish understand this! While we work to protect the elderly, Amish communities are also protecting their customs, values, and traditions. I know this from personal experience. My grandmother has lived with our family for the last ten years, and my children have grown up knowing her and learning from her. It’s a beautiful thing to watch them interacting and sharing life together.

Proverbs 2:8 says, “He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.” And sometimes God calls us to be His physical hands of protection.

Dear heavenly Father, although it would be easier to step back from my responsibilities to the elderly in my life, help me to step forward and be Your hands and feet of protection today.