Treasure Digest

• A Lesson in Due Season
• Fertile Soil—Parable of the Sower
• Turning the Hearts . . . Caring for Your Elderly Parents, Part 4
• Children's Corner [See PDF version]
• Share Your Treasures!

A Lesson in Due Season

My husband, Craig, and I attended Ambassador Bible Center in 2003. Since we're from Australia, it took a lot of effort to come—a year of saving money and squillions of U.S. Immigration Department forms to fill out. But our experience was worth all the trouble. We learned a lot—and not just about the Bible either! One of the things we learned was a small but special insight into God's plan that we could never have predicted we would learn—something that, if we weren't from the southern hemisphere, we'd have probably taken for granted all our lives.

If this hasn't already got you curious, let me add a little bit more background. We live in the city of Melbourne. It's famous for its "four seasons in a day" weather. Here, there is no clear demarcation between the seasons. Winter blends into spring, which merges into summer, which drifts into autumn (fall), which slides back into winter.

This is quite a contrast to our experience in Cincinnati. When the snow melted—wow! The leaves budded almost overnight. It seemed that within days the stark, bare trees were full with greenery. Our favorite word around that time was lush.

In Cincinnati, as with the rest of the northern hemisphere, Passover and Unleavened Bread occur during the springtime. But this is not the case in Melbourne, Australia. For us, late March to mid April is a pleasant time of year, but the leaves are yellow, red and brown. The weather is cooling down, not warming up.

So the spring in Cincinnati hit us with full force, and at the "wrong" time of year. However, according to the way God has arranged His Holy Days, it was really the right time! Knowing as we do that for ancient Israel, God's annual Holy Days were closely connected with the agricultural harvest seasons, the symbolism of this time of year became so obvious to us—resurrection, rejuvenation and the beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ.

As we witnessed the trees and flowers coming to life almost literally before our eyes, the meaning of Passover and Unleavened Bread also came to life in a new and exciting way. After a long and cold winter, the spring was a welcome change, giving us a renewed burst of energy.

Similarly, Passover and Unleavened Bread symbolize the death of our "old man" (Romans 6:6) and the zealous renewal of our commitment to God's way of life (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Like a scripture that's been read a thousand times before that suddenly jumps out in a new and unexpected way, we got a real buzz out of this extra little insight into how God has arranged His plan of salvation for us down to the finest details—even making the various Holy Days, with what they represent on a spiritual level, fall at the appropriate time of year. What a clever, wise God we have!

So whenever I consider whether our time at ABC was worth all the effort, I remember among everything else this little lesson, and I have no doubt about it.

Natalie McQueen

Melbourne East congregation, Australia

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Fertile Soil—Parable of the Sower

Most of us are familiar with the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:3-10. The explanation of this parable is in Matthew 13:18-23. These scriptures explain that this parable is about the message of the Kingdom of God. This message is represented by the seed sown in different places; some by the wayside, some on stony ground, some among thorns. But when the seed is sown in good (fertile, rich) soil, it produces a good yield.

We all want the seed we sow to fall on fertile soil. One of the most logical places we can look for fertile soil is right under our noses. We have the opportunity to sow in fertile soil when we teach God's way of life to children, especially our children and grandchildren. Their minds have not yet been clogged with the thorny, stony ways of the world. If we can start teaching them while they're young, good crops should be produced when the seed comes to fruition.

As we nourish them physically and emotionally, we should also be sure they are nourished spiritually. By teaching and training them in God's Word, we are sowing spiritual seed in their lives. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

Look at children as a field of good rich soil. The soil has been prepared and is ready for the seed to be planted. You plant the seed by teaching them God's Word and water them by loving them, setting the right example and helping them make the right choices as they grow up. Just as you take care of all their physical needs, you should also be sure that they know they are loved and cared for.

Help them to be nourished spiritually by taking every opportunity to teach and train them in God's laws. "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

God's commandments and laws should be so ingrained in our children that when they leave their home and go out into the world, God's Word will go with them. Remember, we plant the seed, water and nourish it, but it's God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

Pray for your children that, as you plant the seed, God will increase their understanding in His ways and that, as they grow up, they will produce a good yield in their lives.

Shelby Faith

St. Louis, Missouri, congregation

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Turning the Hearts . . .
Caring for Your Elderly Parents, Part 4

In previous issues we've seen some of the feelings and problems involved in the aging process. This time let's explore some possible solutions.

It is clear that an elderly person's family is looked on as the greatest source of aid. "The evidence shows that the family is still a very important source of meaningful social interaction for the elderly. Research studies have found things like this: sixty-two percent of people aged sixty-five and over have a son or daughter within walking distance; eighty-four percent live within one hour of at least one of their children, and only seven percent live further away than two hours…For most older people, that family is still the most important aspect of their social world" (Dean Black, The Older Person and the Family, 1973, pages 167 and 169).

In some cultures it is automatically assumed that the aged parents will move in with the children. This is a means of carrying on family traditions and a source of stabilization for the grandchildren.

Most will agree (especially in light of 1 Timothy 5) that the family needs some involvement with the aging parents. But, how much? And what can be done where the child is deficient?

While 36 percent of elderly people live with their children, only 8 percent feel it is desirable to do so (Black, page 166). In fact, in one study 77 percent of elderly people interviewed would rather live elsewhere than with their children. Some children don't understand this. They may try to coerce their parents to come live with them.

Some practically "parent" their parents like children, and others virtually abandon them. Caring and concern are vital, according to what the individual parent needs and what the child is able to supply. Without care and concern, parents feel abandoned and neglected. Many a senior citizen has sat lonely while he awaited a visit of concern from his family. Some are still waiting.

Others feel the joy of seeing their children and grandchildren and the knowledge that those dear to them care. They are never too old to enjoy being touched, embraced and loved. They perk right up knowing someone cares. Letters from children and grandchildren far away mean so much (Proverbs 17:6). A telephone call to express concern and affection adds much to the older person's life. Even though many children live close by, not all of them show concern.

As long as parents are in good health, they ought to be encouraged to remain at home. This appears to be the best place for them as they will be more comfortable at home. Encourage them to make use of their leisure time by enjoying friends their age. Many activities for senior citizens are available in local communities. Making new friends at the senior citizens' center can help relieve their craving for companionship. They may learn new games, take trips and get counseling from competent individuals.

With diligence, a child may help his or her aged parent find visiting nurse services, housekeeping services, home-delivered meals, telephone reassurance programs, transportation services, visiting programs, day-care centers and financial help, if necessary. These are usually community-sponsored, and there are other private organizations that offer help for the elderly who choose to remain in their homes. For most in good health, this is best, with frequent caring visits, calls and letters from their children.

What about when they are no longer able to cope on their own? We'll cover that next time.

Gary E. Antion

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Share Your Treasures!

Do you have any short items of biblical wisdom, humor or practical information that you would like to share in this section? Or if you have any suggestions, please contact United News, P.O. Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1027 or mike_bennett@ucg.org.

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