All Parents Need to be Honored

All parents need to be honored is a tough statement especially, for those people that had terrible parents or are currently estranged. The fact is, honoring your parents is just like forgiveness. It may be hard to do but it is for you. It is not about the parents or the one you are forgiving.

According to Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:2-3 we are given the promise that we will increase how long we live if we honor our mother and father. God felt so strongly about this that he made it one (number 5) of the Ten Commandments. The King James Dictionary defines honour as “To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to.” I believe this word was chosen knowing there would be some terrible parents. These scriptures do not say you have to like them. They do not even say you have to love them. However, we are called to love others including our enemies if that is the way one views their parents. The point is, honoring them does not require either one of these. Even horrific parents can be honored without condoning their actions. As these passages state, honoring your parents is for you. It extends your life. Not your parents.

Turning away from your parents or neglecting them as they get older is a form of dishonor. Proverbs 23:22 tells us to listen to our fathers and not despise our mother as she grows old. It is very easy for all of us to get caught up in our routines and neglect our parents. Thesaurus.com lists neglect as an antonym for honor. Many parents are put into nursing homes and forgotten for the convenience of the children. Some children may visit occasional but one needs to decide if this is truly honoring them. There are many other ways to dishonor our parents but if we want the promise of additional years, we need to make sure we continue to honor them throughout their years. There is no guarantee your parents will be alive tomorrow so do what you can to honor them today.