Thinking back on the movie, “Steel Magnolias,” I am reminded of the persistence and perseverance of women. In this story, each of them is at a different point in their aging. Each has certain difficulties and issues that take a toll on them. The story proceeds as we see even the youngest of them facing death. Something we all will face at some point.

I come from a family of very rugged individual women who worked their way through tough times – endured loss – pursued dreams or set them aside for their family. The immigrants from foreign lands that had hope for a better life and a fresh start, looked to America as that backdrop for their future. Often there wasn’t enough to get by. There were many deaths – especially of younger sons and daughters. Climbing the ladder of success wasn’t always achieved, but there was a great sense of who our tribe was and how we fit into it.

As I grow old, I think about how good we have it today. Modern medicine is prolonging life – giving hope where there was none – replacing body parts – extending age beyond belief. Recently, my sister, who will soon turn 80, suffered a fractured pelvis from a fall. There was no treatment, other than physical therapy and rest. She suffered a great deal of pain through the recovery time. After texting back and forth, I really thought this was going to lead to life of discouragement for her. Since she lives in Tennessee and I dwell in Minnesota, our time together is limited, so we continued to text each other daily. Almost two weeks ago, I contacted her and she told me she was taking a trip to Switzerland with her daughter and her family within a few days.

I thought she was kidding, but I didn’t think the joke was very funny. Was it a miracle? Had she recovered just in time to embark on another adventure? I’m not sure, but I think her history and mine have always led us out of frustration and pain. I call her my hero as she refers the same of me. We are not made of steel, but we both have very strong wills even when our bodies are screaming at us. We both lost our spouses within a week of each other. We seem to be on the same journey, only I don’t see myself traveling out of the country anytime soon. Since I’m four years older than her, my adventures include living long enough to see my grandchildren marry – which may take another 20 years or so.

Some think of the elderly as a drain on society. Some would pack them up and send them to another planet where they’d eventually give up and die. We forget that they’ve accumulated a lifetime of knowledge through experience and are willing to share it. They have realized the importance of family and strong relationships. They trust that God is in control.

The generation gap is always going to be there, but we can breach it if we try. Even though we are growing older by the day, we have much wisdom to offer the young. They also have a lot to offer us as we muddle through the changes of this century.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY!