June brings us several recognized holidays as spring turns to summer. I think of June 6—the anniversary of the D-Day invasion that changed the tide of the war and the world. Yes, I am the daughter of a World War II veteran who served in the ETO. Flag Day and Father’s Day also come to mind. I have a very personal holiday in June—two birthdays, mine and my late father’s, both of which are June 7.

My parents, James and Erma Bass, have passed now. Mama died in 2014 after a too-long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 87 years old. Daddy died last year; three weeks shy of his 99th birthday. He was still actively practicing law and lived alone, his memory better than most people 30 years younger. Unfortunately, he had a bad fall on Mother’s Day and passed shortly thereafter.

Daddy was 41 years old when I came along on his birthday. I was 41 when I became a first-time mother. My daughter is now at that oh-so-tender-and-tough age of almost 18. I found myself telling her something recently that triggered many memories. As she was struggling with an issue and wanting some resolution of it, I told her to be patient—that peace will come with age and time.

I found myself thinking of my elders with gratitude. Gratitude that they consistently remind me of what they learned themselves and what I am learning (I will be 59 in June): take the long view. What we think has to be worked out immediately, solved, or resolved this second when we are young turns to something different as we age—a more calming intent that the Teacher attempts to pass along in Ecclesiastes.

Everything has its time. Take that wonderful chapter 3 of the wisdom literature: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Further down, the chapter speaks of God setting eternity in our minds—saying take the long view.

As taught by Beth Moore, in God’s economy time comes, it doesn’t go. In appreciation of all of you who remind those of us coming after you to slow down, that with age comes wisdom, and that unfinished business can find its resolution with time, I say, “Thank you.”

My parents lived into this as they aged and I hope to be living into it now. I feel that I am. I seek to remind my daughter and the next generation of the same. Take the long view.

In this microwave-instant-gratification day and age, thank you for sharing your wisdom, time, and influence. It is needed now more than ever.

Jane Bass Turner, a lifelong Methodist and member of Carthage UMC, was born and raised in Carthage, Tennessee. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1989 as a geriatric nurse practitioner and became of the first nurse practitioners in Smith County. Her 30-year career included teaching nursing at Vol State and Tennessee Tech University. Married for 23 years to Larry Turner, a retired surgeon and physician, the couple has one daughter. A Stephen Minister and certified spiritual director, Jane currently serves as a spiritual director and volunteer hospital chaplain. She also enjoys taking and teaching Bible studies. After their daughter graduates in 2022, the Turners hope to travel more and renovate Jane’s father’s 1932 Craftsman Cottage house; something Jane said she would never do.