Old People

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 31, 1903

We wish to say a few words to old people. We see you wherever we go. We see you in the street cars. The conductor gives the car an extra rest when you get on or off, out of courtesy to your slow step. We see you at church. You nod sometimes, but the sermon is not complete without your smiles of approval. We see you around the stove, reading the papers.

You have one great temptation; it is to think that your days of usefulness are over, that you are only in the way. So you feel that it would be better to be out of the world. This is a great mistake. If the Lord thought that old people were useless, he would have devised some way suddenly to get rid of them.

But what makes a man useful?—Evidently not his ability to work. A baby can not earn a dime, can not do a stroke of work, yet it is often the most important personage in the household. Baby’s coming, often makes father straighten up, often brings sunshine into the home. The old man sitting in the arm-chair may be the most useful member of the household.

Let me say a few words to you: Old people are a blessing because of their wisdom. You have made the journey of life. You have a rich experience. That boy is a bright boy who is a warm friend to some aged person.

Old people supply a necessary conservative force. They give solidity to society; they make society more firm, and throw around much in life the mantle of reverence.

Old people make us think of the future world. We put them and the future life together. They bind us to the throne of God. We could not get along without the old folks. Positively, they are the most useful members of society.—Selected.