Senior Citizens Day Celebration

Senior Citizens Day

The History

Did you know Wednesday, August 21, 2024, is Senior Citizens Day? What an awesome way to acknowledge those who pave the way for future generations. 

In honor of this occasion, I would like to provide further explanation about the significance of this day. I will also highlight what the Bible says about senior citizens and the impact elders have made in my life. 

Celebrated every August 21, Senior Citizens Day (or World Senior Citizens Day) honors individuals sixty and older. The day became official on August 19, 1988, when President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5847 into effect. 

In the proclamation, President Reagan acknowledged that America owes seniors a thank you for all they have and continue to accomplish. America can do this by ensuring our communities are safe places to receive all they need to live independent and dignified lives.

Ironically, President Reagan proved seniors live healthier, dignified lives as he was 69 when establishing the proclamation.

Ways to Celebrate and Serve   

National Today suggests celebrating individuals sixty and older by

• Encouraging citizens to participate in activities they enjoy.
• Connecting with elderly relatives in person, over the phone, or online.
• Donating to a nursing or retirement home.

Along with making donations to help elders in need, Point of Light says you can also serve seniors by 

• Assisting with home-related chores and tasks.
• Teaching them technological skills.
• Completing errands for them and taking them to appointments.

Elders who still drive can serve other seniors by offering them rides. My 87-year-old mother exemplifies this by offering rides to elderly friends and church members regularly until the pandemic.  

While my mother does not drive often, she still offers drives to people when needed. Along with providing transportation, volunteering seniors can also serve others by

• Serving in a ministry within their religious organization.
• Joining a foster Grandparent program.
• Sharing gardening tips with a local community garden. 
• Helping unowned pets at an animal shelter.
• Assisting teachers and students at local schools.
• Monitoring the polls at voting locations

Benefits of Volunteering  and Interesting Facts

Serving others and feeling good about contributing to society are not the only benefits of volunteering.  Vantage says seniors who volunteer 

• Bridge general gaps.
• Establish new connections.
• Lower their risk of being in isolation and battling depression.
• Learn new skills.
• Increase their physical activity.

Many seniors enjoy the benefits of volunteering as 15 million United States residents 65 and older volunteer. Other interesting facts about seniors says

• They are the fastest-growing age group on Facebook.
• They are the growing age group in the US.
• They are likely to vote as 71.9% of elders voted in the 2020 election.
• They are working longer as 19% have at least a part-time job.
• They become wiser as they age.

The Bible’s Take on the Elderly

The Longevity of Senior Citizens

Did you know the Bible supports becoming wiser as you age? Job 12:12 mentions that with age comes wisdom and understanding.

Proverbs 16:31 suggests that gray hair comes with age. King Solomon uses the verse to describe gray hair as a crown of glory one obtains by living a righteous life. 

Living a long righteous life is the reward for following God’s command to obey your parents (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2-3).

Expectations for the Elderly

As parents become elders, the Bible expects them to teach their families about the Lord and his commands (Deuteronomy 4:9). 

In addition to teaching their families about God, Titus 2:1-10 expects seniors to set an example for younger believers.

Paul urges them to do this through conduct so the “teachings about God our Savior will be attractive” (Titus 2:1-10, New International Version).

Seniors can set a positive example for younger believers by acting as a source of wise counsel. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro proves this by advising the Israelite leader to delegate tasks to avoid burnout.

Jethro tells Moses to appoint leaders with good character to judge small matters while he handles the most difficult cases (Exodus 18:13-25). By heeding the advice of his elder relative Moses saves his time and protects his physical and mental health.

Offering wise counsel for younger generations is not the only way seniors help take care of their families. They can also create financial stability for their loved ones by leaving their family an inheritance (Proverbs 13:22).

Investopedia.com says leaving an inheritance is an act of love as it eases the financial burden families may experience. 

Obligations of Younger Generations

Younger generations can reciprocate this love by following God’s command to care for elderly relatives (1 Timothy 5:4).

Caring for older family members is essential because it’s a way to honor them and prove the sincerity of your faith (Ephesians 6:2-3; 1 Timothy 5:8).

Providing for elderly family members is also a way to ease the burden of the church (1 Timothy 5:16). By caring for our relatives, we free the church to care for seniors without family members nearby.

Along with caring for seniors, the Bible also expects Christians to honor their elders by showing respect. “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32).

This biblical principle is essential as we are living in times where some children think it’s cute to disrespect their elders. The lack of reverence for seniors is disrespectful to all they have done to ensure we live a better life. 

The Impact of Senior Citizens in My Life

My Spiritual Growth

Seniors have made a positive impact on my life in several ways. Many elderly church members have advised, corrected, encouraged, fed, and interceded on my behalf.

Many elderly relatives have played a part in my spiritual growth by compelling me to get to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Ms. Shirley Jordan

One senior who challenged me to mature spiritually is my neighbor Shirley Jordan. She passed away in September 2021  but left a positive impact.

She was legally blind and I would assist her with typing, ordering groceries, reading mail, and other tasks. Assisting her with these tasks taught me to be grateful for my sight as I watched her struggle to perform basic tasks.

Serving her also taught me patience as we clashed due to our personalities and age differences. Though we clashed, she always told me how thankful she was for my help.

I always ask God to use me for his glory. However, I never thought I’d be a blessing to someone else’s life. I’m glad he allowed me to assist Ms.Shirley in her time of need. 

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do” (Ephesians 6:7-8, NIV).

Does this article inspire you to celebrate the seniors in your life? Do you have any stories regarding the impact elders have made in your life? 

I’d love to hear them. Your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated!