“When I was a little girl, dinosaurs roamed the land.” My grandmother used to say this all the time when I was a little girl, and frankly, I believed her! She said it with such seriousness that any gullible little girl would have believed whatever she was saying. Of course, I don’t believe that now, but I remember many times when I did.  And somehow thinking of her walking with dinosaurs raised her status way up there for a little girl!  My grandmother had to be the smartest, most exciting person in the world!

Many young people don’t realize the value of older people. That doesn’t mean just recognizing that there are older people, but realizing who they are and spending time getting to know them. When we don’t grasp their value, we might miss the truths that often shine through when they start reminiscing about their childhood days. God will show you the importance and value of that person if you take a little time to appreciate them.

When I really listen to my grandparents (and even my parents) I am reminded that older people lived in a different world, where special things that my generation takes for granted were being invented and unusual things were being tried out. People spent more time with each other because computers and weekly television shows weren’t  a distraction. My mom tells me that when she was little, there was still a five-and-ten cent general store in the small town where her grandparents lived and she would go buy things with pennies. I was envious when I heard this because life was simpler back then (and cheaper, too!).

Some of the older generation lived through the Great Depression. Hearing my grandmother’s stories of what it was like to worry about her next meal or put cardboard in her worn out shoes or getting an orange in a pencil box for Christmas helps me understand a little better why she is frugal and always wants her cabinets filled with food. She has taught me how to save things, to take care of my possessions and to spend money wisely on things that I need.

I love to hear stories about the “olden days.” I usually hear these stories from my grandparents, but sometimes I even hear them from my parents, as well. I like to imagine what it was like and how it was different from today’s world. I am usually in awe when I hear certain gadgets hadn’t been invented yet when my parents (and certainly grandparents) were children. Who knew that most people didn’t have microwaves in the 1960s and 1970s? I never knew this until my mom told me they used to heat up leftovers in the oven.

Recent inventions have come out that have made life much simpler, like the computer. Today, surfing the Internet, using Microsoft Word, and checking e-mail are normal routines for most people, yet only a couple decades ago, the computer hadn’t even been invented. My other grandmother has shared stories with me about how she was a secretary and used a typewriter on a daily basis. If she messed up, she would have to re-type the whole page. I, personally, take the computer for granted most times, because if you make a mistake while typing, you can easily erase and redo it. Have you ever taken for granted the ability to use technology? I use the computer frequently for school, writing, and Internet purposes. People claim I know all the answers to computer questions (but I don’t, honestly!).

Sometimes my Dad calls me downstairs to help him with something on the computer. To me, it’s the easiest thing because I do it so often. For him, a generation older, the computer is a “sometimes” confusing machine used for business and communication. (I know, Dad, that makes you sound like a dinosaur!)  I imagine my grandmother’s diligence in having to retype entire pages – without a mistake! 

I love that my grandparents are not afraid to look silly by learning new skills that are second nature to their grandchildren. To take it up a notch, have you ever played Guitar Hero? My brother is amazing at the game and makes it look super easy. My grandfather was determined to learn how to play so we spent part of our Christmas celebration teaching him all the moves. It was quite the scene and will always be a favorite memory. My grandfather was very good at it in the end, but it was amusing seeing an older person determined to learn how to play Guitar Hero.  In the middle of the fun his grandchildren were learning to never accept age as a reason to stop learning.  My grandfather is “ever-growing, ever-green.”

I love that many older people are refusing to be left behind by technology. My grandmother emails me frequently to check up on me and vice versa. Email really is an awesome thing and I can’t imagine life without it. I’m glad my grandmother has learned to use a computer and email her friends and family.

Older people can offer wisdom to us, since they have “been there, done that.” I suggest hearing what the older generation has to say, because they’ve lived longer than we have.   Listen carefully when they tell stories about their childhood.  You will learn much about character and perseverance. And practical ideas for living, too. My grandmother has given me various tips ranging from putting icing in the refrigerator if it’s been opened to never forgetting your daily devotions. When I was a little girl and spent the night with my grandmother, we would have devotions together and just by doing that I learned that spending time with the Lord was a priority for my grandmother and I wanted it to be a priority for me, too. She is full of wisdom and advice, because she’s “been there, done that.” She has helped me through very hard circumstances because of her wisdom and guidance.
 

This only scratches the surface to the value of older people to me. They truly are amazing and have given me all sorts of wisdom and good advice. If spending time with an older person is a new thought for you, I recommend that you force yourself to get over your discomfort and intentionally sit next to your grandmother or grandfather the next time they visit, ask questions about their childhood, look them in the eye when they are talking, and listen carefully.  You just might learn something that will stay with you for the rest of your life.