Mother’s Day was last month and this month we celebrate Father’s Day on the 16th. We all have a biological mother and father. Some of us have had the blessing of having adopted parents, spiritual parents and grandparents. This year, celebrate all those people and let them know how much they mean to you. The Bible tells us: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). This is the fifth of the ten commandments. In order, the first four are about our relationship with God, then our parents and then others. I would say God places importance on our relationship with our parents. Ephesians 6:1 states, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”
I want to remind you of the fact that your parents are not perfect. They are human beings that tried to do their best by you. Some may not have had the capacity to give you what you needed or wanted. Some may have had battles they were fighting and they weren’t “winning”. For some, it may be a struggle to honor them and the fifth commandment is difficult for you.
We need to remember we too need God’s grace for our mistakes and sins and we need to also give grace to others. God knows that unforgiveness is harmful to us.
Hebrews 12:15, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”
Don’t let the poison of unforgiveness take root in your life. Forgive now, in your heart—and ask God to help you with it. Let Him help you with that burden. He will help you and even bless you through it!
For some of us who are older, we are able to celebrate the mothers and fathers are children now are. So celebrate being a parent and also celebrate the parent God has been to you. Celebrate God, as our Father, and glorify Him for all He has done for you. Start counting your blessings until you run out of numbers and let Him fill you with peace, joy and love right back! Love, Pastor Dr. Deb Walsh.
