Last updated: June 18, 2025
Dried Up by Marion Smith
Toward the end of last summer, I saw a field full of wild Black-Eyed Susan flowers. A few of them were still in bloom, so pleasing to behold as they swayed in the warm Texas breeze. Most of them, however, were withered, brown and dried up. They weren’t as attractive to look at without the pretty petals, but they still served a purpose. Their time of beauty to the eye was over, but in nature’s miraculous plan, there remained a design and a use for them. They were still needed, for the seeds in the center of each flower would feed many a bird, and these seeds would also drop to the ground to propagate new growth.
I have visited many elderly people in retirement and nursing homes, and I know a few elderly people from our church. Some of these individuals feel so useless that they think they are a burden to their family and society, and that they have no worth at all.
This makes my heart sad, because I believe God still has a purpose for their lives, even if their bodies are failing. If their minds are alert, they can be prayer warriors. They can encourage others in the facility where they live, as well as visitors. They can be good listeners for others who need to share burdens or joys, and they can share their faith with others.
At one time, I regularly visited an elderly lady living in a nursing home. My motive was to bring a little happiness into her life and give her a visitor to look forward to seeing on a regular basis. Once again! God gave me the blessing! For I learned so much from this lovely lady: how to age gracefully, how to share one’s faith, and how to be thankful for each day God gives.
The life expectancy of people today is significantly longer than it was even 10 years ago. We should pray for our elderly relatives, acquaintances and church members that they would never feel “dried up” and useless.
Meditation: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13
Jesus Loves You!
Also read:
- My Plans
- Men in the Bible: The First Man to Tithe
- The Myth of Omnipresence (8): God at the Terebinth Trees of Mamre
- A Child’s Ten Commandments To Parents
- Freed from Paranoid Schizophrenia
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