Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you. – Deuteronomy 5:16

Today's Scripture Reading (January 6, 2022): Deuteronomy 5

I am so indebted to my parents. There is so much of who I am that is because of them. And, I have to admit that one of the things that can cause me pain is the idea that I am somehow letting them down. If you want to criticize me with words that will hurt, it is not hard to find the words;  just remind me of the dishonor that my behavior brings on my name and my parents' name because that is the last thing that I want to do.

My parents have taught me so much about life and what is important. It is something that we never really understand in the early stages of our lives. When we are young, parents are just obstacles to all the fun we think we want to have. We just do not believe that our parents get it during that portion of our lives. But as we get older, we realize that we are the ones who have failed to comprehend how our lives were intended to be lived.

God tells Moses that we should teach our children (and ourselves) to honor our parents so that the future will go well with us. The fifth commandment has been noted to be the only commandment that comes with a promise; that it will go well with us in the land. But, to get the "it will go well with us" portion of the commandment, we need to be willing to honor our parents because they are the ones upon whom we depended in the early years of our lives. Without the protection and love of our parents, we would never have made it through childhood. It is more than just a respect issue. Our parents are in the unique position of teaching us from the mistakes they have made. And if we can find a way to learn from their mistakes, we will be in a position of advantage.

I know that I am lucky and that many in our society do not have the kind of relationship that I have with my parents. For them, there is a parent-child struggle that has made that relationship anything but a positive one. Yet, I am convinced that we can find something for which we can honor those responsible for keeping us safe during those early years, even if it is just because God demands it. But maybe even more importantly, as parents, we should be aware of this commandment and do the things that our kids will be able to honor us for later in life, even if they think we are killjoys in the moment. I want to be worthy of the honor that God tells them they are to give to me.

I am grateful for the things that I have learned from my parents, and for the opportunity to watch them live. And I have also had a chance to watch their parents and learn from them. It has been a gift that has been given to me by God. And I want my parents and grandparents to know that I do honor them, and I am very thankful that they are in my life.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6

See Also Exodus 20:12