I read an article several months ago about a young gal, and how she honors and respects her elderly father. I believe he lives with her and her husband, and he may not realize it, but she is taking care of him (her father, that is). I don’t remember everything that the article said, but I felt convicted in my heart about my dishonoring behavior toward my parents, especially in those early high school years.
I had been thinking for some time about my poor behavior growing up as a teenager. I finally gathered my wits, and wrote to my mom and dad, separate letters of apology. I felt that I needed to repent to them for my gross behavior from years past. The thing that grieved me the most, is to think about how I had treated my parents with disrespect, and how they actually put up with it. I shake my head now with grief, to think of what I would do to my son or daughter if they dared to treat me like that.
As I am raising my own children now, especially my son because he is older (3 1/2), I explain to him when I discipline him, why I give him the rod (Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 22:15, Proverbs 29:15). I do my best to explain to him how my parents didn’t give me the rod, and because of that, I still struggle as a grown up with being rebellious and disrespectful. Because I love them, I don’t want my son or my daughter to grow up to be hard hearted, rebellious, and disrespectful to their wife or husband and children.
I received an email response from my mom when they had received their letters, and she said that she was going to write me back. This was several months ago and I have yet to receive her letter yet; one thing after another has kept her from sending it. I don’t know how they received their letters of repentance, and if they have truly forgiven me in their hearts … all I can say is; think about your behavior and how you treat your parents now. Is it honoring?
If anyone knows how to honor their parents, especially when they don’t believe the same way as you, please let me know! Many blessings,
