Honor Your Father and Mother

 

This afternoon while I was out for my walk I was listening to a podcast as I typically do.  This particular one really made me stop and think of things in a whole different way.  It made me think of Mom and Dad and our family as well as other families and their situations.

This particular pastor was talking about Jesus on the cross and how the very last human act that He did was to provide for his widowed mother.  Even amidst all of His pain and utter weariness, Jesus loved His mother and made sure that she was cared for.  I honestly had never really thought about it.  I knew that He had pointed her to John and John to her but I never thought about how even in His most desperate moment His thoughts were toward the one who gave Him life.  He showed us how we are to love and to honor.

In Exodus 20:12 it says "Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." I think sometimes it is easy to just dismiss what this means.  I know in our family that we were really blessed with wonderful, caring parents that sacrificed a lot for each one of us.  And yet there were times where I know I was not always honoring to them.  In fact, there were times where my behavior was downright disrespectful.  Yet, they loved me.

I also know that there are situations where some parents have not seemed to be worthy of being honored.  Perhaps they were really bad people.  How then are the children to honor them?  This is a hard question.  Maybe, just considering the fact that they gave you life would be enough.  I don't know.  I just know that we as Christians are commanded to do this.  There is no wiggle room here.  

As a parent myself, I wonder how my children feel about me?  I certainly have not always been the best parent.  I let them down in some pretty big ways over the years.  And while I have tried to make up for that in recent times, I am sure the hurt that was felt goes pretty deep.  I pray that God gives me time to truly show them the love that they deserved. 

Each one of us can reflect back on our parents whether living or dead and think of things that we could have done better.  I know I can.  I know that I should have taken more time to spend with them.  I should have been more patient with them when their health issues made them a little bit edgy. I should have listened more and talked less.  I should have found ways to ease their minds when life got harder for them.  I cannot change what was.  But, I can look at those folks around me that I can pour myself into now.  I can find more time to spend with my family and friends.  I can be patient with those who are not feeling healthy.  I can listen more and talk less.  And I can find ways to ease the minds of those who are finding life difficult.

Maybe, just maybe if I do that, I truly will honor Mom and Dad.  And maybe, just maybe, I will be loving a little bit more like Jesus.