Psalm 92 says of God’s people, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The LORD is upright he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” I can testify to the truth of these words. In recent years it has occurred to me that among those our age within the Reformed Presbyterian denomination, my sister Jenn and I have been given a unique privilege. We have had the opportunity to form friendships with dozens of retired RP missionaries, pastors, and laypeople, as well as numerous others sometimes 70 years older than we are! Having lived a large portion of our lives next door to the Reformed Presbyterian Home in Pittsburgh, Pa., being the daughters of the Homes administrator, and having worshiped regularly in the Home’s chapel on Sabbath evenings, Jenn and I have grown up saying that we have 100 grandparents. Such an advantage has not come without its funny moments and peculiar experiences, of course. I doubt that any other kid my age had a cane collection to play with or was as adept at wheelchair maneuvering as I was. It was a true lesson in servanthood when Dad called Jenn and me over one morning, asking us to dig through a whole dumpster’s worth of trash bags in hopes that we would find a pair of lost dentures. On the other hand, the position had its perks, too, as I became pretty familiar with which rooms had the best candy for visitors. We also came by an interesting collection of clothing that made a great wardrobe for playing dress-up. More importantly, my connection with the RP Home has allowed me to interact with its residents in many practical ways. For as long as I can remember, my family has eaten Sabbath lunch in the Home’s dining room when my dad is on duty. After lunch we sometimes visit residents and patients, and this has been an opportunity for me to learn some valuable lessons. It is not always easy to selflessly give time to others when all you can think about is getting home to take your afternoon nap. But many of these people that we visited were bedfast, sick, lonely, or had no family to come see them. I am thankful that the importance of caring for ‘the least of these” was impressed upon me early in life. Spending time with my elderly friends was often very enjoyable. When I was younger I often joined the residents at the Thursday afternoon Uno games. When I got a bit older I would volunteer during the summertime in the activities department by helping out with Bingo and sing-along time. Among my early memories are the times when Dr. G. M. Robb would invite me up to the sundeck on clear nights to show me the stars through his telescope. In more recent years I’ve learned the basics of precenting from Charles McBurney. Simply talking with residents after the evening worship services vices has also been encouraging. The list of things could certainly be longer, hut I hope that these few examples serve to paint a picture for you. Earlier I quoted a verse that describes the vitality belonging to the elderly and their testimony to the goodness of God. As I’ve spent time with the Home residents throughout my lifetime, I have witnessed and experienced this first hand. Whether I’ve been worshiping with them, learning from them as preachers or Sabbath school teachers, enjoying meals with them, receiving encouraging cards from them, or sharing a conversation with them, I’ve been blessed tremendously by their active love for God and people, their enthusiasm for life, and the rich wisdom they possess. It’s a wonderful thing to learn from such mature Christians—to see the helpfulness and concern they demonstrate towards others or to listen to them pray. It is a humbling thing to realize how much more time than me they have spent serving the Lord and walking with Him. I would love to begin mentioning names and tell more specifically how the elderly have enriched my life, yet there’s simply not enough room. Perhaps you have been blessed with a “godly heritage” of grandparents or elderly in your congregation. I urge you to think about these people in your life and to waste no time in getting to know and appreciate them better. The elderly Psalmist said in Psalm 71:17, “Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.” Let us all listen to their testimony now, before we realize one day what learning opportunities we have missed.