Are You a Curmudgeon or a Blessing?

by Dale Reeves

Story Pastor

This past Tuesday I traveled with twenty of our senior adults to Woodland Lakes Christian Camp for their “Seniors Day” event that they host twice a year. The program is always quite fun as we are treated to some Southern Gospel music, some good old hymns of the faith, an inspiring and challenging message, and a great lunch prepared by the camp’s kitchen staff. This year there were over 200 senior adults in attendance, and we were packed in the camp’s mess hall like sardines. The pulled pork, green beans, new potatoes, and éclair cake were delicious, and if you care for beets—personally, I don’t—that is always served as well.

This year I was honored to get to speak to the crowd and the title of my message was simply this: “Are You a Curmudgeon or a Blessing?” In case you don’t know what a curmudgeon is, Webster’s Dictionary defines it this way:

“A crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man.”

My brother-in-law, Ed Carl, jokes that his brother Jim is the president of the “Curmudgeon Club,” and he is the vp. He’s trying to recruit me into the club now that I am a senior. When I think of curmudgeons, I picture the two old guys who would sit in the balcony of the theater during the Muppet Show. Their names were Statler and Waldorf. Remember them?

Legendary retired preacher of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, Bob Russell, tells the story of one teenager who said, “Did you know that my grandpa has OCD?” His friend asked, “Your grandpa has obsessive-compulsive disorder?” “NO,” he responded, “I mean, he is Old, Cranky, and Dangerous!”

If you’re getting on in age, I have a really simple question for you today: When people look at your life, people in the church, your friends, your family, your kids and grandkids, would they say that you are more of a curmudgeon or a blessing? Maybe you’re a combination of the two depending on the circumstances and your mood that day. If you’re a senior adult or nearing that age, I want to remind you today that you’re not done. God’s not done with your story. Somebody once said that older folks are worth a fortune: With silver in their hair, gold in their teeth, stones in their kidneys, lead in their feet, and gas in their stomachs.

The Most Joyful People

But rather than being curmudgeons or sticks-in-the-mud, I would propose that those of us who have walked with Jesus the longest should be the most joyful people on earth because, regardless of what happens in Washington D.C., the Mexican border, Ukraine and Russia, Iran and Israel, we have a hope kept in Heaven for us that will never perish, spoil, or fade! The Bible does not tell us to “Rejoice in the Lord until age 65, and then you have permission to be grumpy and cantankerous.” It tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NIV).

I’ve served on various church staffs for many years, and I have seen the complete spectrum in the church—from those who are constantly complaining that the church doesn’t sing enough old hymns, the preacher doesn’t dress up enough, no one cares about them anymore . . . to others who are constantly full of joy, and always asking where they can serve next. I know several folks who were able to retire from their jobs early, and they did so they could devote more time to serving Christ and his church. They volunteer in the nursery or children’s ministry, they show up early on Sunday and make the coffee, they plant flowers and mulch around the church grounds, they fix things in people’s homes, they mow the lawn, they fix meals for those recovering from surgery or those grieving the loss of a loved one, they serve as elders or mentors, and they are powerful prayer warriors. Staying active in serving others has a way of moving us from self-indulgence to self-sacrifice, doing things that please God, benefit others, lead others to Jesus, and keep us walking in joy!

The happiest retirees I know are those who have put a new set of tires on their worn-out old car (their body) . . . they have “re-tired” their life by discovering some new tread so they can keep rolling along on their journey with the Lord. We can all choose to spend our last years on earth constantly grumbling and complaining about anything and everything, or we can choose to be a blessing to everyone we meet.

Can I ask you another question? Are you fun to be around? We, as Christians, should be more fun to be around than anybody, shouldn’t we? Do people see you rejoicing about how good God is all the time? Do they want to know more about Jesus because they see him living in you? The lead singer for the Irish band U2, Bono, said this, “As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both!!” I wholeheartedly agree!!

Being a Blessing

The concept of blessing in the Old Testament is a really big deal. When the patriarch Jacob was about to die, what did he do? He called his sons who represented the twelve tribes of Israel to his deathbed, and he prophesied blessings upon each son, one-by-one. Some would be more “blessed” than others. The last verse of Genesis 49 tells us, “When Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death” (Genesis 49:33, NLT).

Psalm 78 and Psalm 145 talk about the task for older generations to pass on the stories that were handed down to them from their ancestors, stories that tell of our Lord’s power, his mighty wonders, his awe-inspiring deeds, his commands, his truths, and his goodness. It is our job to pass on a godly legacy to our children and our grandchildren. Our kids and grandkids are constantly watching our examples, and we have the power to either bless them or curse them. Which example do your kids and grandkids observe from you more—blessing or cursing? Little eyes are watching and ears are listening.

In his last address to the Israelites before Moses was going to die and the children of Israel were going to enter into the promised land, Moses told them,

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NLT).

What is the legacy you want to leave? Which phrase would you rather have on your tombstone when you die . . . OCD (old, cranky, and dangerous); a real curmudgeon; “I told you I was sick”; or “he [or she] was a blessing from Heaven”?!