And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:34-35).Jacobs’s sons brought him the bloody coat of many colors, the evidence of what Jacob perceived was the death of his beloved son. Joseph was the elder son of his first love, Rachael. Now the evidence was staring him in the face—Joseph was gone, dead. All of Jacob’s dreams were in Joseph.
Jacob had received an erroneous report; he believed a lie and it led him to a life of mourning. He could not be happy when grandchildren were born or when sons or daughters were married. Although he was the patriarch of the family, no one wanted to go near him because of his attitude, which was steeped in grief. He had died before he died!
Nothing more is mentioned of Jacob until the time he tells his sons they are starving and that he heard there was corn in Egypt. He did not do as David did when he knew his son was dead. David rose from petitioning the Lord for the baby’s life, washed himself and asked for food, saying the child can no longer come to me but I can go to him (2 Sam 28:23).
You know the story well, but Genesis 45:27 says, “And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.” All the false reports his sons had brought him were demolished in a second; when he saw the wagons, his spirit was revived. His spirit was dead for perhaps 17 years. When Jacob arrived in Egypt he was 130 years old and he was 147 when he died. He was able to see Joseph’s children and to bless them. His spirit revived, the dead parts of his heart were raised and God gave him another 17 years.
In the year 2000 my mother had to have a leg amputated; she was 86. It seemed life was over. She soon realized things would be different; she had already given up driving, but could still get around some in her home. She could no longer do the things she had done, dressing antique dolls and making quilts, keeping her hands and mind busy.
She had lived in the same home for over 30 years, living alone for 25 of those years. Finally, there was no choice; a convalescent hospital was the last resort. To her, like Jacob, life was over. It took several different nursing homes and a couple of years, but her family kept working with her, encouraging her. My sister Neva bought beads and materials for her to make bracelets and necklaces. Neva, being an evangelist, would then take these items out and show them. Several were sold and Mom became excited; she could do something! As Mom worked with those beads, making sets for grandchildren or friends and a few to sell, her spirit revived and she began to regain muscle and be strengthened. She even went out Christmas shopping for her seven children!
She also got a promise box and began to use it to minister to the staff. As each would come by, pick out a card and read it, they asked Mom for the meaning.
Mom continued to minister until she died at the age of 93. An additional seven years of life, real life. Don’t die until you die!
What are some things you can do?
Have a plan
Have a schedule, start your day with devotions, make a prayer list, honor God, give Him praise, spend time in worship. The first part is the Lord’s so give Him the first part of the day; don’t delay, thinking you have to do this or that because it is so important. Nothing is more important or necessary than spending time with God. Make it a practice; put it into your schedule; plan and do it. Your day will be much more profitable if you put Him first.
Eat right
Maintain a good nutritional diet. We are what we eat. Watch what you eat; count carbs and calories.
Exercise
(Make sure you have your physician’s OK before doing exercise). Physical exercise is necessary for good health, and good health includes not only diet and exercise, but good mental exercise too. Read, get a hobby, make friends. Plan it and do it.
Ministry:
Every one of us is called to minister.
“Even so send I you,” were Jesus’ words (John 20:21). Regardless of your physical or mental condition, everyone can pray.
Do some worthwhile volunteer work.
Use the life-skills you have and offer to help the pastor. There are many things you could help the pastor with; just ask him or her.
Get involved with the senior adult ministry in your church.
If your church does not have an official Senior Adult Ministry, ask your pastor to start one. (Check out the Ministering to Senior Adults Training Manual available at messengerpublishing.com or 1-888-444-4674. The cost is $10.00. The item number is 150114.)
Make phone calls to help raise funds or to get others to volunteer.
Go to a rest home and visit with the residents.
A touch or a smile will do wonders for these shut-ins. Every one wants to feel loved and to know someone cares about them.
“The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day.” – Charles Spurgeon
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