In July of 2014, Gertrude Weaver turned 116 in Little Rock Arkansas. That is a long time. At that point, she was the oldest living American and the second oldest person living in the world. Think about it – if you are 58 right now and feeling a bit old, she is twice your age.
Now you might be thinking, “That would be awful to be that old and wrinkled.” But what if you were still mentally sharp and had your wits about you? That might actually be pretty cool; especially if you are still able to visit with your 93 year old son, which she could.
Ok, this is interesting and all but you may be wondering what in the world does it have to do with my significant relationships? Great question. When Gertrude was asked the secret to her longevity, she cited three things: “Trusting in the Lord, hard work and loving everybody.” While her response might seem simple, at least the words, the implications are huge.
Trusting in the Lord – allowing Him to bear the stress and burdens in our life certainly saves some wear and tear on the old psyche. Working hard and fulfilling His purposes for us also gives us meaning and purpose. And loving people might seem just a bonus. However, I work with people on a regular basis who do not “love everybody.” As a matter of fact, they seem to hardly love anyone, and they are particularly adversarial with their spouse. When this is the case, it is not uncommon for it to contribute to both emotional and physical problems and literally erode the foundations of their existence.
So my tip today is simple – strive today to genuinely love people – especially your mate. It just might foster a longer and more enjoyable and fulfilling life.