Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. Genesis 50:1-3
Joseph made all the arrangements for his father’s burial. Even the Egyptians had deep respect for Joseph’s father. I suspect it was a combination of having respect for Joseph and the elderly in its society. Because Jacob was related to Joseph and because he was elderly, they respected him.
More and more in our society, that respect for the elderly is waning. Every week I hear stories of how the elderly are now being assaulted and abused. I’m afraid the veil of civility concerning the elderly has been lifted and we’ll see this kind of activity more frequently.
Many over the age of 70 or 75 feel no one cares about them anymore since their kids and grandkids have their own lives to live.
Based on these words, there’s probably someone you need to call today, isn’t there? Or several people. It’s not a grandiose gesture but one that counts.