We enjoy the blessings God has for us in life when we honor one another in our families.

We learn from Ephesians 6:1-3: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

If you think about it, this is so good of God!  Instead of saying, “This is the first command with a promise, He could have said, “This is the first command with a THREAT!!!”  You will honor your father and mother, OR ELSE!!!  Just wait until your Heavenly Father gets home! 

That’s not what God does. God says I know this is going to go against what you want to do, your natural desires are not going to feel like obeying and submitting to one another, but if you will do it, I promise you will find a fulfilling life. You will find a life filled with blessings. So children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  Honor your father and mother, because it leads to God’s blessings.

How can we obey this commandment of obeying our parents? 

This is not just for the young kids, it’s for all of us. There is no age limit on honoring our parents. We never graduate from this commandment. Obviously, if we are older we are not living under their roof, and the roles adjust, but God’s principles still exist and if we want to find His blessings then we seek to honor our parents. 

Here are 5 simple things you can say that will show honor to your father and mother. 

1. “Yes, mom / dad.” 
When you obey the first time your parents ask you to do something, you show HUGE honor to your parents.  

“Son, could you sweep up the floor real quick?” “Yes, mom.” 

I can tell you as a parent that would sound amazing! Even if you would just smile in response. Don’t just say, “Ugh” and roll your eyes. Just say yes, that would be an amazing way to honor your father and mother.  

2. “Thank you, mom / dad.” 

Parents love it when kids say that. I know some messages like this are hard for some of us because we don’t have the greatest relationships with our parents, or because our parents have passed away. But if you live with your mom and dad, or if you are in contact with them, it would be a good thing, whether today or sometime this week, just give them a call and say, “Thank you. I don’t know if I said it enough, but after all the meals, the cleaning, the Christmas presents, I just want to say thank you.”  

And I know parents aren’t perfect. I know there is some deep hurt in your life that can be caused by your parents. But one way we can show honor is by saying thank you. Be grateful.  

3. “I’m sorry.”  

This may be even harder to say than the first two!  

​Please do not do what famous people do when they apologize. You know what they say? “I’m sorry if you were offended. I’m sorry you didn’t like what I did, but have you seen what that person over there has done?” 

Just say, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I knew better, or I didn’t know better, but now I do. And I’m sorry.”  

Who knows what sort of healing it might bring in some of your relationships to simply say, “I’m sorry.”

I know you might be thinking, and possibly be justified in thinking, there’s a lot of things that are my parents fault. They’ve never apologized for what they’ve done. They don’t deserve me apologizing to them. All I can say is let the Holy Spirit work in your life and their life. You never know what God might be up to and what blessings you will find if you submit to God and honor your father and mother. 

4. “Let me take care of that.” 

It’s not only good for children living at home to step up and share responsibility, this also applies as our parents age. Think about how much your parents have done for you. I believe God wants us to take care of our parents as they get older. 

In 1 Timothy 5:8 Paul wrote these words:  "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

We honor our parents throughout their entire lives. We honor them when they aren’t pretty or perfect, because that’s how God loves us. 

Proverbs 23:22 says, “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” 

Let me take care of that. It’s my honor and privilege to do so.  

5. “Hello.”  

Say hello. Send a picture. Make it a point to be with the family when you can be. 

There is probably nothing that a mom or dad would like more in all the world than to see all of their kids and grandkids in one place. Does it always happen? No, it can’t always happen. But it means the world to a parent when you just say “Hello.” For some of us, that may be a start. 

If you do not have children, or if your parents have passed away, then you can still please God by loving the family of God. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We can honor our Heavenly Father by loving our church family. Take these words and apply them to one another.  

Let's be people who honor one another. 
This is us. We Honor. 

We are almost ready to begin Spring Break here in French Lick (even though the weather hasn't realized that!). What is crazy is how soon the school year will be ending. I know I sound old talking like this... but time really does fly!  

Many of you will have children preparing to go to college next Fall. Here is a helpful article I found to give yourself a game plan on preparing for this milestone event.  
Click on the button below to read the article.  

I wish everyone was as easy to love as you and me. (That's us who are reading this article.) 
But unfortunately, there are some difficult to love people in this world. 

Jesus actually knew they would be here (and He dealt with them too). In fact, Jesus teaches us how to love the people difficult to love. That's why I enjoyed reading this article on Joshua Reich's blog and wanted to share it with you.  Click on the button below to read.  

May we all choose to be known for loving others!  

We often joke and say a toddler who doesn't want to take a nap is "resisting a rest."  
I often find myself regretting the naps I didn't take as a child.  

Who knew that taking a nap every day could help you be more productive?
Click the button below and check out this article from Michael Hyatt.  

And don't forget men, we have our Fight Club meeting every Wednesday night at 7 PM in the Goody B's Teen Center.  We call it "Fight Club" because we are trying to live Nehemiah 4:14 -

​"Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

- Wade ​