The Last Seat on the Bus
RESPECT FOR YOUR ELDERS IS RIGHT.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read 1 Timothy 5:1-2.
Verse of the Day: “Show your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged” (Leviticus 19:32).
Nadia sat next to her father on the bus, watching the buildings go by the bus windows. She noticed that more and more people got on the bus. Finally, every seat was taken.
When the bus stopped again to let more people on, Nadia leaned over and whispered to her dad, “Daddy, where are those people going to sit?”
Dad looked at Nadia, then looked down the aisle of the bus. He shrugged and leaned his mouth close to Nadia’s ear. “They usually just stand and hold on to those railings,” he said, pointing to the silver rails that hung from the ceiling of the bus.
As Dad and Nadia watched, a gray-haired woman stepped slowly toward the back of the bus. She turned her head from side to side as she walked, looking for an empty seat. Finally, she reached Dad and Nadia’s row.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Dad said to the lady, “would you like to sit here?”
The woman looked blankly at Dad for a moment. “It’s been a long time since a gentleman has offered me a seat,” she said. “Thank you very much.”
Some time later, Dad and Nadia reached their stop. Dad held his daughter’s hand as they descended the steps of the bus and paused on the sidewalk while the bus pulled away.
“Daddy,” she said as they started walking down the sidewalk, “why did you do that?”
“Do what?” he asked. Then, suddenly understanding what Nadia meant, he added, “You mean give my seat to that lady?” Nadia nodded.
“Well, because she was older, and offering my seat was a way of showing respect to her.”
“Did you know that lady?” Nadia asked.
“No,” Dad said. “But we can respect people who are older than us even if we don’t know them. In fact, the Bible says that respecting our elders is the right thing to do.”
“The next time we ride the bus,” Nadia said, “I want to give my seat to an old lady.”
Dad laughed. “That would be nice,” he said. “Just do me a favor, will you?” “What?” Nadia asked.
“Don’t tell the person you give your seat to that she’s an old lady, OK?” “OK,” Nadia said.
TO DO: Brainstorm ways that you (as a family and as individuals) can show respect to your elders this week/this month/always.
TO PRAY: “Heavenly Father, help us remember to honor those who are older than we are. May your name be praised through our actions.”