Many older people live alone. Their spouse has died, their children live far away, and their friends are fewer every year. Some go days without talking to anyone. They may be too proud, or too worried about being a bother, to ask for help. Most of us drive past their houses every day without knowing.
There is a story about an old man who was waiting.
Simeon at the temple
When Jesus was a baby, Mary and Joseph, his mother and the man who raised him, brought him to the temple in Jerusalem.
An old man named Simeon was there. Luke says he was a good man who had been waiting his whole life for God to comfort his people. God had promised him he would not die before he saw the one God had sent.
That day, Simeon came into the temple and saw the baby.
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Luke 2:28 · King James VersionThe original Greek
καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸ εἰς τὰς ἀγκάλας καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν θεὸν καὶ εἶπεν·
Found in Codex Vaticanus (about AD 325), Codex Sinaiticus (about AD 350).
Then he praised God and said that now he could die in peace, because his eyes had seen it.
An old man, near the end of his life, holding a newborn. Among the very first people to welcome Jesus were the old.
Ways to help
Check in regularly. A knock, a wave, a phone call. Regular is more important than long.
Help with the hard chores. Taking out trash, changing light bulbs, shoveling snow, raking leaves, carrying groceries.
Offer rides. To the doctor, the pharmacy, the store or church.
Share a meal. Bring a plate over, or invite them to your table.
Listen to their stories. Many older people have lived through things worth hearing. Ask about them.
Watch for warning signs. Mail piling up, lights off, or no one answering may mean something is wrong. Have a family member's number in case.
Bring your kids. Children and older people are often very good for each other.
Let them help you. Ask for their advice or their recipe. People of every age want to be useful.
They are not forgotten
Simeon waited for years, and God did not forget him. If there is an older neighbor on your street, you can be part of making sure they are not forgotten either. A knock on the door this week is a good place to start.