“The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.”
— Psalm 92:12–15, NASB 1995

As we gather for Thanksgiving, this psalm reminds us that gratitude in old age is one of the greatest forms of worship. David compares the faithful servant of God to a tree planted by the river—deep-rooted, nourished, and still vibrant long after other trees have withered. What a powerful image of a life well lived in Christ!

For many seniors, the temptation is to see aging only as a season of decline. The body slows down, the circle of friends grows smaller, and the noise of the world seems to pass by more quickly each year. Yet, for the believer, these years are not a fading twilight but a sacred harvest. The roots of faith have gone deep. The fruit of patience, wisdom, and love continues to bless those nearby. Like the tree by the river, the soul that draws daily from the living water of Christ remains green with purpose and gratitude.

Thanksgiving, then, becomes not just a day but a way of seeing. We give thanks for God’s faithfulness through every decade — for prayers answered and for strength renewed. We thank Him that, though we may no longer plant new orchards, our branches still provide shade and comfort to others. Gratitude keeps the spirit young even when the body grows old.

A thankful heart in old age is a testimony to the enduring goodness of God. It shows the younger generation what true faith looks like when all the noise of life has faded and only the voice of God remains clear. This Thanksgiving, may every senior among us stand tall like that tree by the river—rooted, fruitful, and forever grateful.