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
This week I want to dedicate my devotional to my parents. I’m not a parent myself, but I can only imagine that being a parent is a hard job. There were times in my childhood and in my recent life experiences where honoring my parents felt like a challenge. I mean how many times do we feel easily annoyed or triggered by our parents? It’s hard to admit that or talk about at times, but it’s true. Not everyone has had the easiest relationship with their parents. Some people have had parents that struggled with addiction, codependency, not being present, or maybe with other challenges; mental challenges, depression, anxiety, or financial struggles. Some people grew up with one parent, some with both, some in dysfunctional homes, and some in a healthy environment, yet parents still fall short! My point is that they’re human. Our job isn’t to accept any abuse that comes from anyone ever, but God does call us to honor our parents. I think about people that I know who have a great relationship with their parents and the first thing that comes to my mind is that they honor their parents with respect. Honestly I have seen these people be very blessed just like the scripture above. I think God was on to something…If you have a great relationship with your parent(s) that’s awesome! Keep it up! Making sure to thank them for all they have done for you. On the other hand, if you struggle with your parents, maybe try giving them a little more grace, ask God to help you forgive anything, and remember your parents are just human. We lose nothing in loving and forgiving, and it’s okay to have boundaries with our parents. However we do lose precious time getting to know our parents by harboring any resentment or anger against them. I know for me I want to be able to appreciate and cherish the moments that I spend with my parents with love and gratitude, while I still can. I say this humbly because I know first hand that it is not always easy to get along with your parents, but I believe the more at peace we are with ourselves (peace that we receive when we receive God’s love) the easier it is to extend that grace and compassion to others, and to our parents.
So for this week show your parents some extra compassion and love. Praying for your relationships to be filled with peace!
Have a blessed week.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life 