• Thriving During Gray-Headedness
  
  The Psalmist likens the righteous to palm trees 'planted in the courtyards of our God.' They " keep on thriving during gray-headedness." Another version reads: " In old age they still produce fruit." (Tanakh) Do you not agree that this is an encouraging thought? Graceful, upright palm trees were a common sight in Oriental courtyards in Bible times. In addition to their decorative value, palms were prized for their abundant fruit, with some trees continuing productive for over a hundred years." By remaining firmly planted in true worship, you can similarly "go on bearing fruit in every good word." - Collosians 1:10.
  
  Jehovah expects Christians to produce "the fruit of lips" - words spoken in praise of him and his purposes. (Hebrews 13:15) Does this apply to you as an older person? It certainly does.
  
  The Bible contains examples of older ones who fearlessly bore witness to Jehovah's name and purposes. Moses had already exceeded his "seventy years" when Jehovha commissioned him as his prophet and representative. (Psalm 90:10; Exodus 4:10-17. Advanced age did not prevent the prophet Daniel from giving a feaarless witness regarding Jehovah's sovereignty. Daniel was probably in his 90's when Belshazzar summoned him to interpret the mysterious handwriting on the wall. (Daniel, chapter 5) And what about the aged apostle John? Toward the end of his long career, he found himself imprisioned on the isle of Patmos "for speaking about God and bearing witness to Jesus." (Revelation 1:9) Very likely you can remember many other Bible characters who produced "the fruit of lips" in their later years. - 1Samuel8:1, 10; 12:2; 1Kings 14:4, 5; Luke1:7, 97-79; 2:22-32.
  
  Quoting the Hebrew prophet Joel, the apostle Peter declared: "' 'In the last days,' God says, 'I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh [including "old men"],...and they will prophesy.' " (Acts 2:17, 18; Joel 2:28) Accordingly, in these last days, Jehovah has uses elderly members of the anointed class and of the "other sheep" to declare his purposes. (John 10:16) Some of these have faithfully been producing Kingdom fruitage for decades.
  
  Consider Sonia, who became a full-time Kingdom publisheer in 1941. Despite a long struggle with chronic illness, she regularly conducted Bible studies in her home. "Preaching the good news is part of my life,"explained Sonia. "Actually, it is my life. I refuse to retire." Not long ago, Sonia and her sister, Olive, shared the Bible's message of hope with Janet, a terminally ill patient whom they met in a hospital waiting room. Janet's mother, a devout Catholic, was so impressed by this loving interest shown to her daughter that she accepted the offer of a home Bible study and is now making excellent progress. Could you seize similar opportunities to produce Kingdom fruitage?
  
  By courageously pressing on in the Kingdom-preaching work despite the limitations of advancing years, older Christians are following in the footsteps of the faithful Israelite Caleb, who accompanied Moses in the wilderness for four decades. Caleb was 79 years old when he crossed the Jordan River into the promised land. After fighting in the ranks of Israel's victorious army for six years, he could have rested on his laurels. But no, he courageously requested the challenging assignment of capturing the "great fortified cities" in the mountainous region of Judah, an area inhabited by the Anakim, men of unusual size. With Jehovah's help, Caleb did "dispossess them, just as Jehovah promised." (Joshua 14:9-14; 15:13, 14) Be assured that Jehovah is with you, as he was with Caleb, as you continue producing Kingdom fruitage inold age. And if you remain faithful, he will grant you a place in is promised new world. - Isaiah 40:29-31; 2Peter 3:13.