by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley My husband has always been an inspiration to me. He handles his health issues, and difficulties with grace, mercy, and dignity bearing the cross he was given. Over the last four years, we both have come to understand, the Blessing is, we are considered worthy enough to carry those burdens. We are a vessel for God, allowing God to fill us with His Holy Spirit, for whatever purpose God has for us. I am still struggling with my health issues from Dec

by Tina Y. Gerber It has been a trying time as we began the journey to move. It can be especially difficult with medical concerns, and as you age, things don't always go as smoothly as hoped for. What's awesome is, we sold our home within a week! The market has been slow and very unpredictable, over the last few years. Yet, if you are open, you can see, God always has something for you. It may be a key for solving problems, a light for when you feel the darkness creep in or a

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley A good life is not having everything you want. Many people don't have this peace and abundant life which God plans for us. Life is good because God is good. Stop chasing happiness, success, fame or comfort and start finding joy in the one who never changes. Every giant in the Bible was defeated by someone who believes God is bigger. God never forgets a heart which prays, even in silence. ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’ 1 P

by Tina Y. Gerber-McCurley We all face challenges of hardship, disappointments, and setbacks. My hubby calls this, "The corner of hardship and perseverance." More seniors are experiencing some kind of profound and heartbreaking challenge, such as social isolation, physical limitations, financial barriers, mental health challenges, or addiction to name a few. Most seniors have an increased risk of falls, unmanaged chronic conditions, depression, malnutrition from skipping mea

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley I am not a genius, or even that smart; I am just an average or normal country girl who loves God and attempts to follow His word. I, like everyone else who is honest, fail daily. God knows this will happen and has accommodated for it as we grow. It needs to be understood that following God's word is different than receiving information: that is passive and/or just educational. It remains subjective, like when one is listening to their pastor's ser

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley More people are living longer, due to advances in medical science. Yet, we are still vulnerable to ailments, and increase chronic conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, ophthalmology and mental illness. Other risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure, ones family history, along with daily diet and physical inactivity. They are all interconnected. Your body is a complex network and an amazing design. For those who look

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Appreciating life is about learning to see the value in what’s already in your hands. Family, friends, health, or the simple luxury of enjoying your morning tea. Those are the things which truly matter. Life is a collection of stories, moments, growth and flashes of wisdom. We spend so much time chasing more, thinking those things will make us happy. Yet, in the small ordinary moments, we often overlook, happiness can reside. There are days when y

TINA Y. GERBER-MCCURLEY Special to The Standard I have said this many times, God didn't promise you a life without pain, struggle or hardships. He did, however, promise to give you strength to get through it. It is important to keep those parts working properly by remaining active. Keeping body parts active as you age is essential to maintaining your independence, helping to reduce pain, and preventing further injuries. Since my visit to the hospital, last December, I will ad

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley Every generation has its own battles; our parents and grandparents went through war, famine, and grew up in the middle of a worldwide economic meltdown. They struggled with high costs, job insecurity, and political conflicts. Things have not changed, and many are still overwhelmed today, as most media wants to keep us scared and agitated. Sometimes, life doesn't make sense. There are moments when the path ahead feels uncertain. Faith means believi

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley As we welcome March, I am hoping for a time of renewal and looking forward to Spring. March, with its changing weather and longer daylight hours, present both opportunities and challenges. I would think and believe, as a senior, I play a vital role in my family, community, and so do YOU. I want to ensure I remain healthy, active, and engaged. It is more important than ever. It was a tough start to 2026 and the key to my success is maintaining my o

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley I will admit, I am tired of living with so many health concerns. It has definitely been a very challenging time. I keep pushing and trusting a breakthrough will arrive because God is present and supportive during these trials, so we are never alone in our struggles. It is important to remember, being concerned about your health is normal, but one mustn't let health anxiety take over their life. God has provided me with comfort, strength and compan

Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley As my husband and I faced health issues, leading into January 2026, I found myself prayerfully asking the Lord to fix me when I am the problem, and to protect me when I am not. The challenges brought anxiety, upset, and conflict with loved ones. However, I’ve learned, listening is one of the quietest and most powerful ways to show love. I know God is near, listening with love, every time we turn our hearts toward Him. My life is far from perfect, but

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley We all carry so much in this busy world, and there are so many changes expected for seniors in 2026. Are you ready? I often wonder what we are chasing. It’s easy to be swayed by what we see on social media. I hope you understand what you often see is not reality! Struggles are a common experience in this life, whether you are 35 or 85, so the experiences of older people can be very relatable. Consequently, it may be mutually beneficial to check on

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley The average age for one experiencing dementia is not a single number because its prevalence increases significantly with age, particularly after 65. Dementia is not a typical part of aging, but age is the biggest risk factor. Dementia includes difficulty with familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation with time and place, poor judgement, withdrawal from social activities and planning or problem solving. Communication difficulties can b

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Life doesn't come without it's various pains, struggles or hardships, but God promised to give you strength to get through them. Fear attempts, in it's way, to keep us frozen in pain. The more we struggle the deeper we sink. These feelings can paralyze us, however, if you call on the Lord, He will save you. We need to do more than eat healthy food, take vitamins, exercise, and rest to feel your best. Who has time for everything … stop spreading yo

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley I know from experience, exercise is very effective and beneficial for most seniors. I anticipate a right knee replacement in the new year. I am looking to further improve my strength, balance, and flexibility, as well as my mental and emotional well-being. As we age, we see physical changes that can negatively affect muscles and bone strength, as well as other bodily systems. Moderate physical activity does benefit your overall health. It’s import

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Sometimes, we beg God, or say, “Why, why me!? Why are things falling apart,” or “Why is this happening? It’s just not fair!” I have no answer to these questions, except, we are here to learn and live a full rich life. For peace at heart, we need to affirm our confidence in Gods power and His ability to overcome any obstacle. In His paramount wisdom, I understand, the Holy Spirit shows up where there is surrender, obedience, and a cry for genuin

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley It's certainly been a challenging year for us. We both look forward to a fresh start with hope and anticipation. As believers, we focus our eyes on Jesus and his wonderful ways of coming through. Many see an older person as broken, as if somehow, they need to be fixed. I will admit, our bodies do change and so they suffer. Their parts no longer work like they once did. Most seniors begin to seem to disappear into the background, and this is a grow

by Tina Y. Gerber-McCurley As we gathered for Church service, it was wonderful to see and talk to so many friends, after such a long...

by Tina Y. Gerber-McCurley Many words have been used to describe the qualities of those who thrive: optimism, hope, resiliency and even...