March 20, 2008

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
 
--Exodus 20:12

When it comes to being a parent, there are no perfect moms or dads. Period!

Only with God’s help are you able to raise children that honor God. That means the best thing you could ever do for your child is to lead them to know and love Jesus Christ. And if they know and love Him, they will honor and respect you!

Now, as a son or daughter, you can honor your parents by respecting them… willingly, lovingly, and with an attitude of genuine esteem.

This is God’s plan for every person, regardless of age. As you get older in life, you begin to realize that your parents have some genuine faults as all people do. But you will honor them if you give them the respect they are due.

If you’ve had a painful relationship with one or both of your parents, the first step to accepting them is to forgive them. You need to affirm your parents—especially those single parents who took on the enormous job alone.

And of course, adult children of older parents should show affirmation by simply staying in touch, making a call every now and then, writing a letter, or being there to visit.

No matter their age, your parents are to be taken care of by you. The Scripture says in 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Begin today to follow the commandment of honoring and respecting your parents… and teaching your children to do the same!

ARE YOU HONORING YOUR PARENTS BY GIVING THEM THE RESPECT THEY ARE DUE?