Wisdom comes with age, still, respect youngsters
Every generation believes that the preceding one is out of touch in some manner, that they just don’t get it. With time marching on, each generation sees changes in music, lingo, clothing, hairstyles, technology, and resistance, adaptation and adoption of these things.
What we grow up with, or are conditioned into, is what we typically don’t want to see change. As we get older, we experience the benefits of our past, such as the learning curve, but we also come into some limiting factors.
How many times have adults said or thought, “Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.”
With good reason many proclaim that phrase since, as we get swept away minute by minute into history, our own history becomes more saturated with what we have lived and gone through, or at the very least, what we have witnessed.
There is a sense of self satisfaction with older people when observing younger people, getting older themselves, and assimilating their experiences into a mindset and attitude that betrays their younger selves.
Witness the person who, when at 18 years old, “knew it all.” When they become 30-something, they find frustration with the 18-year olds who can’t think for themselves or the future and need to grow up, or the petulant child who can’t wait to grow up so he doesn’t have to listen to grownups.
This is not to say that simply because someone is younger that they don’t have maturity or that because you’re chronologically older, that you possess more wisdom and understanding than someone younger. We all can point to examples of exceptional maturity with someone younger and shake our heads at the irresponsibility and lack of judgement of some folks older.
We say to ourselves, “aren’t they old enough to know better?” Truly, however, as a general rule the older groups of folks are typically wiser and make better judgements about the situations and decisions in the course of life because they have seen the mistakes, made the mistakes, and realize what better outcomes that they and others could or should have directed towards.
As they try to pass that along to those experiences too often they are met with automatic resistance. If we wouldn’t just learn from our own mistakes, but the mistakes of others, how much more improvement could we gain?
Prov 20:29 says, “the glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head”.
This signifies that even though the younger has physical prowess, the elder has age on their side. Holding within them a strength called experience, which is admirable.
Prov 1:18 reads, “my son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.”
The admonition here is to listen to those who love you and carefully consider what guidance their principles have laid at your feet as a foundation for living.
Exodus 20:12 educates us to,”Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
And Eph 6:1-2 reminds us, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2Honour thy father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise.
We are with purpose and deference to have respect directed at our parents, those older than us. As it concerns age, even though God is eternal, he is also called the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9.
Back in the sixties/seventies there was a saying from young people, “don’t trust anyone over 30.” Until they themselves became 30! Every generation needs the other. The younger generation offers energy, vitality and exuberance, while the older one offers wisdom, instruction, guidance and thoughtfulness.
My obvious disclaimer is that not all older people offer sage advice, and equally not all young people reject sound counsel. However, in general, we all should heed the sincere and experienced leadership being offered by those who have gone before us.
By the way, in many places I now get a SR. Citizen discount.
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