Honor Mom And Dad:

The way you treat your mother and father now will determine how you are treated when you are old. Whatever you sow, you will reap later. Children grow up and become busy with their own lives. They have things to do and goals to accomplish. Your parents understand this, and they know that you have your own life.

What you don’t know is that in their hearts, you really never grew up. When they think of you, it is always as their child—one whom their heart is permanently attached to. They think about you every day. They worry about you and your life. Regardless of how old you are, they never stop being concerned about you.

Even if mom and dad were not very good parents, were too busy for you, were harsh or strict, or made a lot of mistakes when you were young, but they always loved you and cared deeply for your life. They realize, now that they are older, how wrong they were. It’s hard for older people to admit that they were wrong. Give them a break and forgive their faults.

Now that mom and dad are aging, I want you to call them once a week and go to see them as often as possible. They won’t be around forever; and one thing I can promise you—when they are gone, you will regret that you didn’t try harder to be a part of their lives.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. ~Exodus 20:12

Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. ~1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (TLB)

My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. ~Proverbs 1:8-9 (NLT)

Listen to your father’s advice and don’t despise an old mother’s experience. Get the facts at any price, and hold on tightly to all the good sense you can get. ~Proverbs 23:22-23 (TLB)

Do not rebuke an older man but, instead, encourage him as you would a father, speak to younger men as brothers. ~1 Timothy 5:1 (RCR)

If anyone does not provide for his own family, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  ~1 Timothy 5:8 (RCR)

You younger men, follow the leadership of those who are older. And all of you serve each other with humble spirits, for God gives special blessings to those who are humble, but sets himself against those who are proud. ~1 Peter 5:5-6 (TLB)

Show respect to the aged; honor the presence of an elder; fear your God. ~Leviticus 19:32 (MSG)

Hurts from the past are hard to get over, Lord. Forgiving parents for mistakes they have made is a lifelong process. Please help me to understand my parents from their perspective. I don’t know all of the struggles my mother and father went through when I was growing up. I know, as an adult, that there can be things that are overwhelming sometimes and cause me to not handle situations well. Help me to forgive the past and to love regardless of what happened before.

Help me to honor those who are still living and those I have lost. Give me wisdom to only speak of the good things my mother and father have done for me.

Remind me to call my parents and to help them and care for them in their old age. When mom and dad are gone, may I honor their memory by finding another older couple who are alone and without family, and do all I can to help them.

Give me a forgiving heart, Jesus, to love and give my life for people who did not treat me well. This is the example You showed us when You came into the world to die for sinners—many of whom would never even thank You for what You have done for them. You loved those who mistreated You and cared for people who never thanked You. I want to be like You, Lord, to have a heart that loves people.

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