Seniors deserve gold medal for longevity

Mt. Olive Seniors by Dixie Kuykendall

The North Jefferson News




The Olympics seems to have dominated TVs and conversations this past week.

I remember reading that after winning the gold medal for the long jump in the 1996 Olympic games, Carl Lewis was asked this by Bryant Gumbel on the Today Show — “You have competed for almost twenty years. To what do you attribute your longevity?”

Lewis, perhaps the greatest track and field athlete of all time, did not hesitate with his answer — “Remember that you have both wins and losses along the way. Don’t take either one too seriously.”

What a great lesson that is. Many of our seniors who have reached retirement and celebrated golden wedding anniversaries if asked that question would probably answer the same way.

What if marriage and family values were a category in the Olympic games?

I’m afraid our American team would not be very strong. Somehow clear lines of right and wrong — of understanding what “family values” means — have been lost to the “do your own thing” mentality. Values that once supported marriage and family have all but evaporated.

I have met so many senior couples at the center who, if longevity of marriage and family values were an Olympic category, certainly deserve a gold medal.

Myron and Polly Ray, Harold and Kathleen Jarvis, Wilford and Jason Humber and Lottie and James Fines all have celebrated their golden anniversary. Among their greatest accomplishments, they all list their children and grandchildren, family values and their church.

They are among the many role models in our community.

Again, if you are a senior citizen in the Mt. Olive area, come join us. I assure you that you will fellowship with some gold medal winners.

Correction: Last week I wrote that Perry Farley attended the First Baptist Church of Fultondale, when, in fact, that is where he met his late wife in Sunday school.

He now attends Beachwood where he is actively involved.