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Wednesday, June 16, 2004

PROVING THAT THE WORLD’S SENIORS CAN STILL GET IT DONE

By Bill Ellis
Special to ASSIST News Service

SCOTT DEPOT, WV  (ANS) -- Former President George Herbert Walker Bush, 41st president of the United States of America, parachuted from a plane flying at 13,000 feet, to celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday, June 13, 2004. Whoever said you had to sit in a rocking chair, hoping to get it started, once you become 65 years old?

Frankly, I have a deep feeling of sympathy for those who choose a sedentary style of life just because they have sufficient income to eliminate the necessity of having to work. If you are able, find something useful to do that will make a positive difference in the lives of others.

A family, moving from another state, had just arrived at their new residence. Soon their little five-year-old boy was playing in the backyard and talking to the neighbors over the fence. A few minutes later he came running in the house telling his mother that he had met a boy and a girl that he liked very much. When she asked for their names and ages, the little boy could only say, “I don’t know.” His mother said, “I want to know their names and ages, before you have my permission to play with them.”

Soon as the mother finished her instructions, her little son was running out to the backyard. Immediately he was back with a big smile on his face. His mother questioned him again about names and ages. He responded with obvious delight, “The boy’s name is John, the girl’s name is Sue and they live right beside us.” Then he added, “And John is 80 and Sue is 76. They sure are lots of fun.”

When I heard that story I began to think about folks a little older who were sort of like surrogate grandparents for our children who lived 200 miles from Grandpa and Grandma Harshbarger and 500 mile from Grandpa and Grandma Ellis. That takes visiting, talking and playing together every day with grandparents out of the realm of possibility. But they had the privilege of playing, learning, and bonding with such wonderful people as Antonio, Esther, Paul and Bessie, Ornan and Gladys, Charles and Lillian, Fred and Doris, Cecil and Iva, Everett and Wilma, and others who made a significant difference in their lives.

Are there boys and girls in your neighborhood, church, or nearby schools who need someone just like you almost as much as you need them? You have a vast reservoir of wisdom and experience to pass on to them. You can teach them about many good things, like how to hit a ball, make cookies, read books, plant flowers, have fun, and be godly persons.

A verse in the Bible says, “Always set an example by doing good things” (Titus 2:7 GOD’S WORD) from a translation that uses plain everyday language so we can understand what it means.

The week of June 6-12, 2004, our nation was stricken with sadness in the death of our good and great President Ronald Reagan at the age of 93. He was the oldest person ever to serve as president. He was old enough to retire when he ran for the first of his two terms as our president. But there was still important work he could do. He did not sit down and loaf. He continued to work and changed the history of the world.

Forget what others say or think about your age. Go on working, serving and laughing. There may come a day when those past 55, the age many retire, is the largest age group in the nation.

The latest report, not one filled with the pessimism that we hear these days, indicates that Social Security will still be going strong in the year 2052. That will help some with expenses and keep us productive.

Follow the good example of great men like President Reagan and President Bush. Every community in the world needs people like you. Get up tomorrow morning and go back to work doing good things to make the world a better place in which to live.

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Bill Ellis is a syndicated columnist, and convention and conference speaker on every continent. He is the writer of more than 1600 columns and widely known as a motivator utilizing enjoyment of life and just plain fun and laughter while speaking to high school, university and professional sports teams as well as to business and professional groups of all kinds. His keen understanding of human problems make him a favorite speaker for youth, parent, and senior adult meetings. He is accompanied by Kitty, his wife, favorite singer, editor and publisher.

For information on becoming a subscriber to the Ellis Column for your newspaper or magazine, you may contact him at: BILL ELLIS, P.O.Box 345, Scott Depot, WV 25560 or by calling: 304-757-6089.
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