It’s a commandment we’re familiar with: ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ We can get so used to hearing it that we might forget what it really means for us. So, let’s take some time to have a closer look at what honouring your parents can look like. When we honour our parents (or in fact, any family member), we’re showing them respect, love, and appreciation for the things they do for us. Here are a few ideas of how we can show all these things at home. 1) Spend time with your family. The most precious gift we can give someone is our time. It shows we value them. So, let’s try not to get so distracted by hobbies and outside influences that we become like strangers to our family. 2) Be willing to share. Hebrews 13:16 reminds us: ‘share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God’ (ESV). 3) Don’t forget to say, ‘I love you’. Even though our love for our family is constant, it’s great to reaffirm it by saying it out loud to them. And we never know when it might be too late to say those words. 4) Keep your home peaceful. Let’s avoid having angry words and fights – they don’t reflect how much we love our family, deep down. ‘A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare’ (Proverbs 15:1 NLT). 5) Be forgiving. The Message says: ‘Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive …as quickly and thoroughly as…Christ forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 MSG). Today, let’s commit to honouring our families and show them how much they truly mean to us.
What now?
Cook a meal for your family, and then spend some time sitting down together, enjoying what you’ve prepared. Use it as an opportunity to put some of those points above into action.