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We’re in between two of the world’s greatest “Hallmark holidays”, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Many of our holidays are inspired by scripture or religious undertones, mainly Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. One Biblical reference to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day is the fifth of the 10 commandments, “Honour thy father and mother, that thy days may be long…” (Exodus 20:12) That verse isn’t talking about one Sunday each year, of course, but rather a lifetime of respect and honor to those who birthed us and raised us. Maybe it’s good that the commercial world makes us stop and give special honor to our parents on those two days, because otherwise it’s easy to take them for granted and to overlook the awesome influences they had (and have) on our lives. I feel like the most blessed man on the planet to have the parents that God chose for me. My mother is a Godly woman who showed her 5 boys by example and by her words that God is the only thing that counts in life. My father – also a minister – lived a Christian life in front of his boys and preached to us every day in some way about something – and still does! When I get together with my brothers we can laughingly quote Mom and Dad on some of their favorite sayings and favorite Bible verses… and we leave and go back to our families and quote them to our children, continuing the heritage that began in our home when we were small. I realize that many reading this may not be able to relate to a family like I’ve described above. Many who I now pastor and meet tell me stories of mothers who were selfish or fathers who were absent or abusive, and I silently say a prayer of thanks every time for what God gave me as a child. The eternal God above, who sees and knows all, also understands that circumstances like this have existed from the time that families were first together. Why then would he command that we honor our fathers and mothers in a blanket commandment? Shouldn’t it read “Honor thy father and mother only if they have been good to you” instead? Here’s what I think. I believe that God gave a blanket commandment so that we would ultimately realize that even if our parents weren’t perfect and made mistakes (and all parents do on different levels) that we learn to honor them for the good things that they’ve given us. They gave us life to start with, after all… and in most every case there are things that are good that they’ve taught us. For those with the most horrible set of parents that can be imagined you can still say that they taught you things NOT to do, and be thankful. It’s also a lesson that we don’t forget to honor God, the father of us all. We go through our lives with short-sighted vision, living day-to-day, and often forget to remember and thank God for so many things He blesses our lives with… and the first gift was our parents. Mom and Dad, thanks! Archived Gary's Musing Click Here |
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Gary's
Musings