- Feb 5, 2002
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- 65,922
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- United States
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If Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has any lasting impact for non-Swifties, it’s the marking of different seasons of life as eras. For women with parents in the baby boomer generation, who make up nearly 20% of the population at 65 million people, we are rapidly approaching our second daughter era. Or you may call it the Ruth era.
As our parents and older relatives age into older adulthood, we are now called to care for the elderly as they once cared for us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly tells us that we must give our parents “material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress” (No. 2218). Where the Fourth Commandment to honor your father and mother previously called for our obedience and respect to our parents, as grown children, we are now called to become responsible for them.
Women, in particular, have a natural affinity as caretakers, especially for our parents. Numerous studies suggest that daughters are twice as likely as sons to care for an elder. This affinity has biblical roots in the story of Ruth, who embraced the burden of honoring and caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi, when the men of their family passed away. Ruth promised Naomi, “Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
As our parents and older relatives age into older adulthood, we are now called to care for the elderly as they once cared for us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly tells us that we must give our parents “material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress” (No. 2218). Where the Fourth Commandment to honor your father and mother previously called for our obedience and respect to our parents, as grown children, we are now called to become responsible for them.
Women, in particular, have a natural affinity as caretakers, especially for our parents. Numerous studies suggest that daughters are twice as likely as sons to care for an elder. This affinity has biblical roots in the story of Ruth, who embraced the burden of honoring and caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi, when the men of their family passed away. Ruth promised Naomi, “Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
Intergenerational living and support
Continued below.
Be like Ruth: How to honor our parents as they age
When we were young, we were called to give our parents obedience and respect; as grown children, we are called to become responsible for them.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
