May 10, 2026 — Episode #121
In this Mother’s Day episode, Jerry and Becky Drace continue their series of observations on senior adulthood, sharing insights recorded in what Jerry calls his life-observation notebook.
The couple opens by wishing listeners a happy Mother’s Day before returning to observation seven: the discipline of prayer. Drawing on the ACTS model (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) and referencing devotional writer Watchman Nee’s concept of “sit, walk, stand,” they discuss how prayer begins with resting in God rather than making requests. They then explore the power of physical touch, citing Jesus’ healing miracles and workplace research on the impact of a hand on the shoulder alongside spoken praise. Turning to Psalm 23’s “valley of the shadow of death,” Jerry recalls walking the old Jericho road in Israel and explains the difference between the rod (protection) and staff (rescue), noting that valleys, unlike a dead end, always open into brighter ground. The couple also discusses how denying truth does not make it a lie, illustrated by a grandchild who challenged a teacher’s classroom statement, and closes with an extended discussion of forgiveness as the only antidote for revenge, including the story of a betrayed wife who found freedom by personally forgiving her unfaithful husband. Listeners are again invited to send in their own senior-adult life observations.
Topics discussed:
- ACTS model of prayer (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication)
- The power of physical touch in relationships, citing Jesus’ ministry
- Psalm 23 and walking through “the valley of the shadow of death”
- Distinguishing between the rod and staff as symbols of protection and rescue
- Discerning truth versus falsehood, including a story about a grandchild in school
- Forgiveness as the antidote to revenge and holding grudges
- Listener invitation to share personal observations on senior adulthood
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or directly via our podcast RSS feed. See the full episode archive for more.