Matters of Age and Wisdom

I have a delightful 90-year-old friend named Donna. She is spunky and inspirational and indominable. Last month she collapsed while working out at the Fitness Center and was rushed to the hospital where doctors inserted a pacemaker and sent her home to continue to make the world a better place. When I visited her, she said, "I don't know why the Lord doesn't just take me home. I guess I still have lessons to learn." I hardly think so, Donna! Besides her mission as a young woman, she served three additional missions with her sweetheart Arvil, and together they raised seven children. She has many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews with their children, and neighbors and friends around the world. When I met Donna seven years ago she was still working as a kindergarten aide at an inner-city school and manning the counter at Burger King in the evenings! When Arvil died a few years ago, Donna took disabled veterans into her home to care for them! Ron died, and veteran Bill took his place in Donna's care last year. Donna's nephew was in need and homeless, so he is living there now, too. Donna drives them to appointments and feeds them three times a day. She is a visiting teacher, an inspiration in every Sunday class, and a guiding force at book club. So I say, "Donna, you are still here not because you have lessons yet to learn but because so many of us still have lessons to learn from you!"