There's a great scene from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes where Kathy Bates' character, Evelyn Couch, emotionally snaps and uses her car to repeatedly ram another car belonging to two college-aged girls. Why did she do this? Because the girls rudely stole the parking spot she had been waiting for. The girls walked into the grocery store sneering at her, saying, "Face it, lady, we're younger and faster." When the girls, themselves, freak out over the damage Evelyn has caused, she simply replies, "Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance." It's a great way to illustrate the fact that the older you get, the more wisdom (and sometimes insurance) you have. Sure, it would be nice to look like we were in our 20s again, but who really wants to suffer through all those life lessons again? Not me.
I bring this up because at the beginning of Lent this year, Pope Francis brought up an issue I think is extremely important, and one that I hope you will contemplate and contribute to in the comments section if you are over 50. The Holy Father pointed out that older people play a key role in the lives of the youth through sharing the pearls of wisdom they have gathered over the course of their lifetime. “I still treasure the words my grandmother wrote to me on the day of my ordination. I carry them with me to this day inside my breviary,” the Holy Father told pilgrims March 11.
I couldn't agree with Pope Francis more, especially in an age where the older generations of people are regarded as unimportant or useless. I believe there are gold mines of wisdom to absorb and learn when it comes to hearing what people older than ourselves have to say.
I, myself, am 50-something, but I still seek the advice of my parents and a spiritual director. I do some volunteer work with elderly hospice folks and I could spend all day listening to their stories and words of wisdom.
The Pope stated in his address, "When the hearts of the elderly are free from “past resentments and present selfishness,” he said, they become attractive for the youth, “who hope to find in them a strong support in their faith and meaning for their lives.” I think that is also key... being someone who has been wronged by others, has seen the depths of despair life can throw your way and still have a heart that is happy, forgiving and concerned about others.
The National Catholic Register recently reported on this same address, adding, "The Pope prayed that in a world that frequently overlooks and discards the elderly, the Church can be a beacon that recognizes 'their contribution and gifts' and helps them to foster 'a fruitful dialogue between the generations.'” The Holy Father lamented that he wished the Church would overcome the "culture of waste, promoting the joyful reunion and mutual acceptance of different generations.”
So, with this in mind, I would like to ask any older Catholics to help out younger Catholics and offer some of your sage advice regarding how to be successful in a relationship. What, in your opinion, are the important things to pay attention to in relationships? Any advice on raising good children in an immoral society? There are many tips you could offer on marriage and family life, and even if you have experienced the failure of a relationship, you still have something to offer because you have the opportunity to share with others the lessons you've learned from those mistakes.
Won't you share your riches with us? You can help a younger person do better in life by giving us a look at what you've learned... I invite you to take a moment and share some of your pearls of wisdom in the comments section with those who still have to learn those life lessons.
If you have questions or comments, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
