The Old and the Young Together

There is something special that happens when we put the old and the young together.  Today Nathanael, Noelia, and I did our monthly visit to the retirement home.  I watched as our sweet friends shuffled out to greet them, and then settled themselves to wait with anticipation for the singing to begin. And that's when I begin to notice.

For the seniors the day has escaped its dullness.  There are smiles of delight and gentle love, and I begin to see a beauty in the worn faces, almost a reflection of the innocence of the children.

And for my grandchildren?  I watch as Nathanael puts a caring arm around one of the ladies.  He seems a little older today, a little more mature, as he gives her a tender smile.  Noelia clowns a bit for them, her way of hiding her shyness, but eventually she is ready to carry on a comfortable conversation.

They sing for their friends, and Nathanael centers out a lady who has joined in singing with us. "I noticed a fourth pair of lips moving on this song," he says.  She beams.

We can never leave without receiving gifts, though Nathanael tries to refuse.  Both of them are gradually learning to take the gifts graciously.

They run and jump as we head back home. I can tell they are happy. The money they have been given means very little to them at this point in their lives, but the warm glow they feel knowing they have made some lonely people a lot less lonely makes them feel all bubbly inside.

And I am happy, too.  My grandchildren are learning the joy of blessing others.  Some day, if I ever find myself tucked away somewhere in a nursing home, I am quite sure that my grandchildren will not forget about me.  They will want to come and bring me joy, knowing, from experience, that the joy will return on them.  And for this I am so thankful.



For the previous post, watch Nathanael and Noelia doing a video book review: Dinosaurs for Kids

To see Noelia sing, watch: I've got the Joy on the "Nathanael's Monologue" post.