Can Others Add Years?

My goodness, this seems a crazy question. I know others can subtract years from our lives if we allow unforgiveness toward them; but adding years? This is a new thought to think on. Yes, I knew in my heart, it is true; I know God’s Word reveals this about honoring our parents:

^{Exodus 20: 12} Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Does the study of the Blue Zone research reveal this too? And is it limited just to our parents?

Annie O

I will never forget precious Annie O, my mother’s favorite in the world caregiver, who she met when she was at Appletree Court Assisted Living. This lady loved the Lord and counted mother (and others)  as her own mother, who she had had to leave in Africa. She was always smiling and singing and would have mother sing with her. I know her beautiful spirit added years to mother’s long life. Mother is now going on 98. At a 96th birthday party we gave for mother while at Appletree Court, Annie made the statement to us:

“Today, you have added more years to your mother’s life by caring this much.” ~ Annie O

Centenarian Blue Zone Secret Eight: Loved Ones First

But what does this mean?

The most successful centenaries studied in the Blue Zones put their families first. Their entire lives revolved around their family. They helped each other with duties, had traditional rituals and they also had a certain focus on togetherness.

An Investment Worth Gold

Buettner in The Blue Zones says that families represent the highest degree of social network. He talks about making investments into our family. As we invest into our husbands, wives, parents, children and grandchildren’s lives when they need us, we will likely reap a harvest of care and support when we need them.  And the basic support of a family becomes so vitally important as years go on.

 

Grandchildren

Investing into the lives of these precious ones of our is very important to John and I.  It is a joy to pray for them and to be around them. I pray for the Lord to show us how to do more. Sometimes I feel like I am leaving one or two out, and I so don’t like this thought. Help me Lord! It is easier when they are younger and don’t have their own busy schedules. However, I know there are more ways we can invest.  We have two boys in college. I choose to do better about  writing letters to them.

Traditions

One of my priorities for each year is the composition of a family scrapbook. It seems to get harder and harder as our family gets bigger and bigger. Finding Chatbooks is going to help. I am completing our grandson, Chandler’s, senior year book of his first 18 years via Chatbooks. I mentioned this decision in an earlier post and probably wasn’t totally convinced. Yes, I am now. It is so very much easier. We received our first two Chatbooks recently. I did one for a test of their $8 book and then one from our Cancun Trip for their $12 book, which is a hardcover.

If you haven’t gotten your first free Chatbook via the past link I sent, please use this one to get the free app and your first series book free by using this link:

http://invite.chatbooks.com/danirotramel3fh

Please note that by using this link I do get some kind of a credit toward my next book:) and you get your first book free.

Love to Hear Your Ideas

We love time with our children. They are close by, so we do have an advantage over most. What ideas do you have for investments in grandchildren ages 3 to 19 (one age at a time, of course.) What ideas do you have for family rituals, traditions, or other. The Blue Zones study says that children thrive on rituals. I bet you have some treasures  the rest of us would love to have.