Finding Life’s Rainbows
A ninety-two-year-old was being moved into a nursing home. Though he was blind, he was carefully shaven and groomed. He had recently lost his wife of seventy years and patiently waited to be taken to his room. “I love it,” he said.
“But Mr. Jones you haven’t seen your room yet.”
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. I already decided to love it.
“Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away… just for this time in my life.” (“Life Is Like a Bank Account”, Heather Eliot).
Life is a game of chasing rainbows while avoiding loneliness, depression and the reality of everyday getting closer to death as we physically deteriorate. In the golden years of retirement, in which many days seem anything but golden, I have chosen to celebrate the golden moments to be found.
The greatest reward in life is bringing joy to others. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the one who brings good news” (Isaiah 52:7). Giving to others brings joy beyond that of receiving. Katharine Hepburn shares this story about generosity.
“Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. The family ahead of us had eight children, well behaved, standing in line. They were not rich, but their clothes were neat and clean. Their excitement was obvious.
“When their turn came the father proudly announced, ‘I'd like to buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus.’ The ticket lady stated the price. The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, ‘How much did you say?’
“The man didn't have enough money. How was he supposed to tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus? Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. We were not wealthy in any sense of the word! My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, ‘Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.’
“The man understood what was going on. He appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation. He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied; ‘Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.’
“My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with. Although we didn't get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide. That day I learned the value to Give” (Katharine Hepburn).
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
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