Today’s Theme: Honoring Our Parents
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Scripture
“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—”so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Ephesians 6:2-3
Reflection
I am grateful for God blessing me with my parents. I’m grateful for my childhood and the times we shared, the lessons learned, and their stern hand that kept me from danger. I’m grateful for the times I get to share with my mom, the lessons that I continue to learn, and the wisdom that she imparts to assist me. I thank my mom for taking care of herself while she carried me in her womb and for taking care of our family so our bond could be unbreakable. I’m grateful for every single day that God gives me and blesses me with my mom.
I thank my father for his role in bringing me into this world, for taking care of our family, and for the lessons, he taught me—some I’m finally learning now. Even though he transitioned from this life, he is always a part of me, always with me, and I’m grateful to God for that blessing. I thank my parents for their sacrifices so that I may live a better life than they did. I will honor them every day of my life. My parents are a blessing to me!
FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE WITH THIS
Some of you don’t have fond memories of one or both of your parents or those good memories have been hijacked with bad ones—so every time you think of something good, a bad memory floods the entire space. Some of you are estranged from your parents, or you never knew them. You could have built an internal wall to try and block any loving feelings that try to creep in. Maybe you have chosen to harden your heart towards one or both parents. But that’s not what God wants.
God said to honor your father and mother so that you can enjoy long life on Earth. He didn’t say to honor your father and mother only if they were present in your life or only if they treated you right. Let God handle any grievances that you have with your parents. They are His children. He made them, and He’s responsible for molding and correcting them. If one or both were abusive, neglectful, controlling, mean, selfish, or absent, then God has those issues covered. You must try to forgive them for not seeing the gift that is within you and the gift that is within them. They are or were operating out of lack, and so lack is what you got in return.
Don’t pass on that lack to others. If you spend your life dwelling on what a parent did or didn’t do, then you never get to enjoy life blessing the lives of other people and children—especially your own. You don’t get to see your full potential to love, forgive, and be forgiven. You unknowingly set yourself up to be as negligent as they were to you. By honoring them, as God directs you to, you break the cycle and create a healthy one.
Here’s something else to consider:
Honoring your parents can also mean being more loving, patient, kind, considerate, nurturing, and supportive to people than they were to you. You evolve to where they didn’t, but without spite and malice in your heart. It’s not about pointing out their flaws and being obsessed with being better than them. Instead, grow to see their deficiencies and understand that they didn’t grow to where you are, but they helped bring you into this world, and now you’re able to do what they could only dream of. Maybe, their lack is because they had experienced lack as a child and didn’t know how to positively process it, so they passed that lack on to you. You have a choice—continue the cycle or do what God asks of you.
FOR ALL OF US…OUR JOURNEY
Your journey, mission, and calling are not about them. It’s about you. How you see them and treat them is about you, not them. God is looking at your heart just like He’s looking at theirs. He’s dealing with them just like He’s dealing with you.
Think about it, honoring our parents positions us to be honored parents (or parental figures to children who need us most). If your heart is hardened towards one or both parents, how can it be completely available to love and nurture others? How can it fully express love to your significant other, children, and others? If part of your heart is closed off, then it’s not fully accessible. God’s heart is always accessible to us in all Its fullness. He wants the same for us. Be the change you want to see!
Prayer
Father, thank You for my human parents. Thank You for blessing me with life and love. Even in rough times when I didn’t see eye-to-eye with one or both parents, I’m grateful for the lessons that I learned. I thank my parents for some of my mannerisms, the characteristics we share, and the ability to look in the mirror and see them.
Father, thank You for making it possible for me to have these parents and to learn from them—what to do and what not to do. Even when I had doubt, even when I wished I, or You could make some changes—I thank You for my mother and father because my life with them has helped mold and shape me into the person I am today. In Your Name, I praise and pray. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Copyright 2011-2024. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Music: Climb by Shane Ivers; Quiescent In Time by Shane Ivers – https://www.silvermansound.com
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