One of the Ten Commandments says that we should honor our parents. It’s something God wants us to do, but we often feel confused as to what it entails, especially if we’ve had a stressful relationship with our parents.
When we honor a person we treat them with respect. How can we honor or show respect to our parents? Let’s see 8 easy shapes to obey this commandment.
8 ways to honor mom and dad:
1. Pray for them
When we pray for our parents we figuratively bring them before the throne of the heavenly Father. It is the greatest gift (and honor) we can offer you! We intercede for them before our Lord, for their needs, their health, their problems. Whether or not they are Christians, we have to pray for our parents. If they still do not have Christ as King and Lord, it is imperative that we pray for his salvation.
In addition to praying for their personal needs and for their relationship with God, we must pray for our relationship with them. Our parents are, just like us, human beings with virtues and defects. There are many difficult situations that we have faced as a family over the years. Some we overcome well; others not so much.
Parents and children we need healing of the soul to be able to continue loving and respecting each other. Let’s ask God to give us the right attitude to relate to our parents and to show us how he wants us to honor them.
Supporting Verses:
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with petitions and petitions. Stay alert and persevere in prayer for all the saints.
(Ephesians 6:18)
I thank my God every time I think of you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.
(Philippians 1:3-4)
2. Spend time with them
As the years go by our responsibilities grow and it is not so easy to find time to be with the extended family. Between work, shopping, cleaning the house, taking care of our children, and everything else, it’s hard to find a couple of hours to go visit the parents. But we must! They may spend most of their time alone and the greatest joy of that week (or month, if they live far away) is seeing each other.
By visiting them we show that we care. A hug, a smile and a word of encouragement are small details that do not cost us, but can be a blessing and a joy for them. Not all families have known how to express love and affection through the years. But when we have Jesus in our hearts and his Spirit dwells in us, our perspective changes. The love of Christ fills us and guides us in our relationship with our parents and with all those around us.
Supporting Verses:
Therefore, encourage each other and build each other up, just as you have been doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Although I have many things to tell you, I have not wanted to do it in writing, because I hope to visit you and speak with you personally so that our joy may be complete.
(2 John 1:12)
3. Talk to them and treat them as worthy people
It is possible that one of the saddest scenes we can see is that of a son disrespecting his own parents. No matter how they have treated us in the past, there is a choice we must make as children of God. Will we repay them with evil or with good? Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil; on the contrary, overcome evil with good.” It does not mean that we are going to excuse their mistakes and let them go. No. But if the moment arises, we will speak and deal with the necessary topics with the anointing and direction of God.
We should speak to our parents with kindness and respect. Even the most delicate or difficult topics that arise over the years (who will care for them, where they will live, the importance of taking medications, etc.) must be dealt with with the care and gentleness that spring from a heart filled with the Holy Spirit. .
In the Bible we find quite clear and direct words about the way in which we should speak and treat our parents and older people in general. Let’s not fail in this!
Supporting Verses:
Stand up in the presence of elders. Respect the elderly. Fear your God. I am the Lord.
(Leviticus 19:32)
If someone curses his father or his mother, he will be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother, and he will be responsible for his own death.
(Leviticus 20:9)
Do not harshly rebuke the old man, but advise him as if he were your father.
(1 Timothy 5:1a)
Ephesians 6: what the Bible says about our treatment of others
4. Listen to their stories and advice
Often the best gift we can give our parents is to listen to them. Yes, it is true that there are stories that we already know by heart… they have been repeated to us so many times! But what harm is there in hearing them one more time? Let them talk and share their memories with us. They are part of our history!
It can be more difficult and complicated to hear their advice or warning now that we are “full-fledged” adults. But we must do it with respect and evaluate before God the wisdom that may be in his words. Our parents have come a long way and much of their advice is based on their experiences, their successes and failures. Let us listen to what they tell us and ask God for wisdom and humility to apply what corresponds.
Supporting Verses:
My son, listen to your father’s corrections and do not abandon your mother’s teachings.
(Proverbs 1:8)
Listen to your father, who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
(Proverbs 23:22)
My dear brothers, keep this in mind: Everyone must be ready to listen, and slow to speak and slow to get angry.
(James 1:19)
5. Forgive past hurts
Sadly, all human beings make mistakes and harm others, whether on purpose or unintentionally. This also applies to our childhood and the relationship with our parents. There may be deep wounds that need the healing touch that only God can give. Most of the time, the first step to being healed of that emotional pain is decide to forgive.
Make the decision to forgive your parents and allow God to heal and restore your heart. The attitude of your parents does not depend on you: yours does. Obey God and forgive them. Ask the Lord to allow you to see your parents with his eyes and love them with the pure love that comes from him. Do not allow resentment and bitterness to rule your life, but may God reign completely in your heart and show you how to love and forgive.
How many times must I forgive?
Supporting Verses:
And when you are praying, if you have something against someone, forgive him, so that your Father who is in heaven may also forgive your sins.
(Mark 11:25)
Rather, be kind and compassionate to one another, and forgive each other, just as God forgave you in Christ.
(Ephesians 4:32)
4 myths about forgiveness and what the Bible says about them
6. Help them in whatever way you can
As the years go by, our parents – who took care of us during childhood – need more of our help. Sometimes they just need to be reminded when to take medicine or when to go to the doctor. Other times we will have to take them to the supermarket or buy something they need and cannot afford. Whatever it is, we should try to help where we can. We will not be able to solve all your problems because we are human, finite and we have our limitations, but we can help.
The basis of our help must be the love of God. If we do it only because it is our obligation or because it is required of us, we will feel frustrated. Ask God to fill you with love and show you ways you can help your parents.
Supporting Verses:
But, if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to fulfill their obligations to their own family and thus correspond to their parents and grandparents, because that pleases God.
(1 Timothy 5:4)
Help each other to bear your burdens, and thus you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2)
If someone who possesses material goods sees that his brother is in need, and has no compassion for him, how can it be said that the love of God dwells in him?
(1 John 3:17)
7. Do not blame them for your mistakes
Don’t blame your parents for what could have been, let alone the mistakes you made in the past. Each of us is responsible for his own choices and his sins. The easiest thing is to blame others for what we have done or failed to do, but we need to take responsibility maturely and courageously.
Assuming our own guilt asking forgiveness from God and our parents (for having blamed them) shows that we have grown, matured and learned the lesson. When we confess our sins to God he hears us and forgives us. With Christ we can always start anew.
Let’s not waste life looking for culprits. Let us take advantage of the forgiveness and the opportunities that God gives us to live in love as children who shine with his light and who glorify him at all times.
Supporting Verses:
Because it is necessary that we all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one receives what corresponds to him, according to the good or bad he has done while living in the body.
(2 Corinthians 5:10)
If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)
8. Give them lots of love
Above all things, love your parents! That is the best award you can give them for their years of dedication and their patience with you. Give them love, pamper them a little. It is not easy to see how our body changes over the years, it is more fragile, we get sick frequently… The hug and support of children is worth a lot and helps to face the new challenges that arise.
Honor your parents by showing them your love. You will not regret.
Supporting Verses:
Stay alert; stand firm in the faith; be brave and strong. Do everything with love.
(1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Now that you have purified yourself by obeying the truth and have sincere love for your brothers, love one another wholeheartedly.
(1 Peter 1:22)
May the Lord make you grow to love each other more and more, and everyone, just as we love you.
(1Thessalonians 3:12)
Honor your father and your mother, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
(Exodus 20:12)
Understanding the Ten Commandments
The example of Jesus
1. He honored and respected Mary and Joseph
Jesus, even being God, honored his earthly parents and his heavenly Father at all times. In Luke 2:51 we read that Jesus lived subject to his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary. He did not hold it against them that he was God and did as he pleased. No. As a child he accepted their authority and obeyed them.
So Jesus went down with his parents to Nazareth and lived subject to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.
(Luke 2:51)
2. He was subject to the Father honoring him at all times
Jesus also submitted to his heavenly Father in everything. He prayed often and lived attentive to the direction of God the Father in the midst of any situation. He did not seek his own glory. He always sought to honor…