You shall rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man and [reverently] fear your God. I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:32, Amplified Bible (AMP)

Today was a snow day. The roads were suspect due to the winter weather, so the wife and kids were home from school, and I worked from the comfort of my home office. Although I spent almost all day and evening catching up on long overdue paperwork, I had to jet outside long enough for a quick romp in the snow with the kids. The teenager chose not to join us, and the pre-teen didn’t stick around outside for long. So, for most of the romp, it was just me and the 9-year old. After a few snowball throws, we concluded our short winter excursion with a pair of snow angels, and then it was time for hot chocolate!

Back inside, I mused on the fact that the kids are getting older, and playing in the snow doesn’t have the same attraction for them as it once did. That’s okay; I know they can’t stay small forever, and their interests are bound to change. But rather than lament that their days of youthful frolic are numbered, I look forward to the day when, with families of their own, we can reminisce about snow angels, beach trips, mountain hikes at the apple orchard, and other wonderful memories. Such strolls down memory lane are part of the joy of growing older, and helping the elderly in our lives relive those joy-filled days is an integral part of honoring the hoary head of Leviticus 19:32.

There are those around us who are in their twilight years, and they have their own snow angel stories to tell. Although life is busy and responsibilities tug us this way and that, we ought to honor the hoary heads God has placed around us by having them share with us their joy-filled memories. So, take some time out of your busy schedule and ask a hoary head to take you on a stroll down memory lane. By doing so, you will give him or her the gift of companionship. In return, he or she may just give you the gift of some much-needed wisdom.

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