Elders

Men's Word

Once, an elderly townsman accidentally met a traveler who found himself in their city.
- How old are you? — asked the old man.
I am forty years old - replied the traveler.
Two or three years later, they meet again.
- How old are you now? - the elder asks again.
- I am forty, replies the traveler.
- But you said that two years ago? - the townsman was astonished.
- A man should have only one word. I already told you that I am forty - why should I answer differently now?

Money or Hope?

They say that a young man lost a large sum of money. Realizing that he would not be able to get it back, the young man completely lost heart. The elder, who happened to be nearby, noticed this.
- What troubles you, my son? - he asked the young man.
Elder, I have sorrow. I lost money, a lot of money.
- Do not be sad, my son. This loss is not so terrible. You are young - you will earn more.
When you lose money, consider that you have lost nothing.
If you lose time, that is worse. After all, time cannot be returned.
And if you lose hope, then consider that you have lost everything.

Elders

The grandson asks his grandfather:
- Grandpa, why are you and other old men called elders? Are they all equally respected?
- There are elders of different levels and statuses. There is the elder of the table, who sits in the most honored place and is served the best food. There is also the village elder, who is the oldest and wisest; his word is law in the village. And there is the elder of the Nation, who is the conscience of his people.
- And what kind of elder are you?
- If I am called an elder in my village, then I am the elder of my village.

Grandmother and Granddaughter

Once, a grandmother was sitting on a bench with her granddaughter, and the granddaughter asked:
- When do children let down their parents?
The wise grandmother said:
- Remember, my girl, parents never let down their children. Children let down their parents in three cases: if they do not listen to their parents, if they cannot provide for their family, and if children treat their parents without due respect and honor.

Three Forces

A young man really wanted to be strong and one day asked his grandfather for advice:
- Grandpa, what is the strength of an elder, a man, and a woman?
- The strength of a man is in his courage, the strength of an elder is in his words and actions, and the strength of a woman is in her femininity.

Three Torments

The grandmother was combing her beloved granddaughter's hair, and the little girl asked:
- Grandma, what can torment a person the most?
- An incurable disease, an envious person, and an elderly person who has no one to talk to.