Today Sherwood saw the new neighbor on his street out walk- ing and noticed he had to use a cane to walk and was older than the other dragons on the block. Sherwood hoped that someone about his age would move in so he could have a new friend. But he felt certain that the old man would have no interest in talking to younger folks. That night Sherwood mentioned that he had seen the new


neighbor out walking but was disappointed because he was old and slow. He told his parents that he wished someone younger had moved in because the man was like other old people. Sher- wood thought that the man would not have any interest in mak- ing friends, and due to his age, he had nothing in common with or even be interested in younger dragons. His dad said, “Wait a minute. You are making a big mistake! It’s so sad that many folks think that older dragons have to have someone tell them what to do all the time. They act like older people’s minds are also in need of help. They need someone to think for them, and that they must be boring to be around.” Dad shook his head and said that we miss so much by feeling and acting that way. In places around the world, older people are respected, not ignored. “There is a great amount of wisdom, of common sense, that can only be gotten by living for many years, and we should not ignore that. We are poorer and less prepared


for things that come along in life without the wisdom of years our older folks share with us.” More importantly, in the book of Leviticus, one of the earliest commands to his people, God says, “Show respect to the elderly, and honor older people. In this way you show respect for your God. I am the Lord.” Sherwood said he had never looked at it like that. He said, “The next time I see the new neighbor, I’m going to tell him who I am and really listen to him!”


Red Velvet Chocolate Cookie Cupcake By Mary Drew Bult with Illustrations by Anna Campbell Bult


 Grab:                


Go:                  


16 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian


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