October already! One of the distinguishing marks of autumn is the aging plants, with their browning edges and “age spots” on the leaves. They show the marks of survivorhood, but no one admires these badges of courage. The bug-bitten missing chunks of leaves, the dry, bent stems, and the faded blooms are never met with appreciation for what the poor plant may have gone through.
Inside each of these seemingly ugly old specimens is a story of its life in the garden. Sometimes it also holds a seed, bulb, or rhizome of a new plant that will strike wonder in our hearts next spring. We rarely look beyond the homely surface, though.
A few of my irises developed a disease and had to undergo “surgery” to remove the diseased parts. They were then left to dry completely. A couple weeks ago, I found some of the dried-out roots and planted them in pots. I then almost mistook them for “empty” pots before I suddenly saw the sad little iris root near the top of the soil.
As with the elderly, these shriveled roots hold a beautiful life within, but they sure don’t exhibit this at first glance.
A young lady of my acquaintance insists that she does not like being around old people.
“They smell.”
“They look strange.”
“They dress weird.”
Those flamingo pink polyester elastic-waist pants paired with the teal shirt may not make it onto the cover of “Vogue,” but underneath that peculiar exterior may reside a soul that has grown from her fashion-plate days to this.
She may have now adopted the notion that economizing on clothing is a good way to save money for mission works. How could we guess this, unless we ask her about her younger years?
The man with the strange odor may have contracted “jungle rot” fungus in the swamps of Southeast Asia, as he served in our military forces. How can we thank him properly if we are so repulsed by that “old person smell” that we won’t get near enough to know his story?
“A hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the ways of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31, KJV).
One friend tells me that, at the time of her dear husband’s passing, her daughter, granddaughters and their children made a commitment to have lunch with her once a week. This gives Mrs. McLemore something wonderful to look forward to and brightens her days.
How do we honor the “hoary head?” It’s not as easy when dementia or Alzheimer’s takes over, causing them to say things that would never pass their lips in an earlier time.
This condition is the cruelest trick of all. It makes them even harder to love. But really, it’s just a disguise! Don’t let that gruff exterior make you forget the precious person that it houses.
Nursing homes should post a picture of each resident on his or her door. Not a current picture — but one taken while they were young and in their prime.
It would be a great reminder to the caregivers and family that this person was not always the cantankerous or withdrawn person that houses his or her soul. No, this elderly resident had quite a different life before being relegated to a warehouse for distributing pills and sponge baths.
They are every bit as full of life inside as my dried-out iris rhizomes.
“You shall rise up before the gray-headed and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:32, NASB).