Honoring Age

A Timeless Value in a Ever-Moving World.

In today's fast-paced society, it seems we're increasingly focused on what's in front of us - on progress, efficiency and how quickly we can get things done. Technology has made everything instantaneous. We expect fast answers, immediate results and seamless convenience. In the race to keep up with all that life demands, it sometimes feels like we have no time to slow down, pause, or even acknowledge the things that don't move at our speed. And one of those things is age—particularly, the elderly.

I believe this is why teaching our children to honor and respect older generations is more important than ever, especially now, as this value seems to be slipping further into the background. We're looking forward, wanting no interruptions or delays in our journey, but we often forget that one day, we too will be the ones who slow down. One day, it will be us who needs a little more patience, understanding, and care.

It’s not just about giving up a seat on the bus or offering a helping hand—though these small acts are a wonderful start. Honoring age means recognizing the rich history, wisdom, and experience that older generations carry with them. It’s about showing appreciation for the lives they’ve lived, the stories they have to tell, and the lessons they can pass on to us.

Sadly, our world sometimes views the elderly as an inconvenience or, at worst, irrelevant. We rush past them, too preoccupied with our own lives to stop and listen. We see them struggle with technology, move a little slower, or need more assistance, and instead of stepping in with compassion, we sometimes step around, as if to avoid being held back. It’s almost as if we’re afraid to acknowledge the natural process of aging, as if we’re immune to it.

But here's the thing: no one is immune to ageing. It's a shared experience that we will all have to face. And how we treat the elderly today—whether they are our parents, grandparents, or strangers—says a lot about the kind of world we’re creating for ourselves and for future generations. If we neglect to teach our children the importance of honoring those who came before us, we are not only losing a fundamental part of human connection, but we are also setting the stage for a future where we, too, may feel ignored or invisible.

I often reflect on how much we can learn from older people if we just take the time to listen. Their lives were shaped in a world very different from ours. They experienced hardship, perseverance, and resilience in ways that many of us can't even imagine.

By teaching our children to honor age, we are also teaching them about empathy. They learn to put themselves in someone else's shoes, to understand that not everything is about speed or instant gratification. Life is not just a sprint; it's a journey with many phases, and each one has its own value.

When we teach our children to hold the door open for an older person, to offer their seat, or simply to greet them with a smile and a kind word, we’re teaching them more than just good manners. We are instilling in them the idea that every person, regardless of their age, has worth and deserves respect. It’s about human dignity.

My daughters and I were in the city early on Saturday morning. We were hoping to go to a craft store, but unfortunately, it was still closed, and we had to wait for a few minutes in the rain. That’s when an older lady approached us.

She was clearly in the mood to chat and started exchanging stories with me. With great pride, she told me about her six children and eleven grandchildren. She talked about how she used to try to spend time with each child individually and how difficult it was for her after the war (her husband had passed away early), making life as a single mother at the time even more challenging.

Then, she turned to my girls and said: “You have such a lovely mom, who takes the time to talk with an old woman like me. I’ve experienced very different things, I can tell you!” She shared how no one would offer her a seat on a crowded tram. “I’m still pretty good on my feet,” she said, “but sometimes, it would be nice to sit down, especially when the brakes are so sudden. No one has the time to talk to me, and I’ve witnessed some sad things.”

Just then, the store door opened, and she quickly got involved in a conversation with the staff. I stayed behind with our girls, and we talked about the encounter.

Honestly, I’m not the type of person who enjoys chatting with strangers, especially when I’m out with my family. But this woman only needed seven minutes of my time, and her smile and obvious joy from the conversation gave so much joy to me and my girls in return. We once again experienced how much we can give with a small gesture.

It made me realize how beautiful the image of young and old coming together is – the time we dedicate to each other, even when we come from completely different eras and often don’t fully understand one another.

Let these “interruptions” in life happen, because one day, we’ll be the ones in the shoes of that older lady. Our children, hopefully, will ensure we don’t end up on the fringes of society because things slow down for us, and no one has time to listen to our stories.

I was raised to stand up and offer my seat to an older person, and I’m sure you were, too. But it seems the next generation has forgotten a bit about this.

What surprises me is that when I take public transport, everyone seems buried in their phones, not looking up—maybe worried they’ll notice an elderly person they’d feel obligated to offer their seat to. Sometimes, our phones become shields where we hide.

The other day, I watched a young man stand up to offer his seat to an older gentleman. The man looked surprised but gratefully accepted, settling into his seat on the bumpy bus ride. His face lit up, and I glanced at the young man with so much pride. It felt as though, even while everyone else remained absorbed in their screens, the atmosphere on the bus changed.

Let’s surprise the older people around us with our children, who honor them. Let’s teach our kids to give up their seat on the tram, bus, or train, to let an elderly person go ahead at the checkout, and not to sigh impatiently when the lady in front of them takes a little longer to pay because she can’t see the small change so clearly anymore. Our children can learn to hold doors for older people and greet them politely. Wouldn’t that be beautiful?

The wonderful thing is that our children feel that gratitude, and it brings them joy. It teaches them to think of others, not just of themselves.

Moms and dads, let’s work on this and teach our children. And not just teach them, but also be a role model for them.

I know many of you have had negative experiences with older people, perhaps someone didn’t want your seat on the bus or was grumpy. This topic often comes up during our parenting classes, when we speak about this exact topic. The disappointments that stop us from passing on these values. But I think we shouldn’t let ourselves be influenced by that.

The interaction between young and old is so important. Not just within our own families, but also for society as a whole. It’s beautiful when both can approach each other, despite all the differences and the “everything was better back then” mentality. :-)

I think we younger ones can learn so much from the previous generations of moms and dads. I love hearing stories about how they raised their children or how they managed without a washing machine, dishwasher, internet, delivery services, credit cards, etc. It’s hard to imagine, but they also only had 24 hours in a day, and they managed just fine. :-)

And what does the Bible say about it?

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Leviticus 19:32-33
“‘Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God."

And the one we all know:

Ephesians 6:2-3
“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Teach your children that honoring the elderly has not gone out of style. The world may not always reflect the respect owed to those who have gone before us, but let’s be the families that make a difference and step up. By doing so, we instill in our children timeless values that strengthen not only our homes but also the community around us.