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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | How to honor estranged parents? | Ex 20:12 | mark d seyler | 175243 | ||
Hi Gloria, I'd like to add to Doc's answer if I may... In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught in a number of ways that the intent of the Law was the matter of the heart. I'm sure you've heard this before, hatred is murder, lust is adultery, and so on. Look at this commandment in that way. "Honor your father and mother" as a condition of your heart. Don't let their bad behavior gain victory over your desire to live in such a way as to make them proud, even if they neither see nor recognize nor acknowledge such a life. As if, should they come to the Lord 10 years from now, they would be able to look at your life, and say, "in spite of all we did and didn't do, still you have done well!" Keep your willingness to serve them in the Lord even though they only want to take from you. But "in the Lord". I understand, from my own family background, the difficulty with this kind of relationship. My father was sometimes abusive, most times absent, and occassionally, rarely, a good father. My mother was very abusive, manipulative, and after she died, and I was able to see in her scrapbooks, I realized that she had serious mental problems. And while we need to recognize when a relationship is unhealthy, and damaging, and we need to be absent from it, we mustn't live our lives in rebellion to our absent parents. In our hearts we harbor good will towards them, true Christian love - devotion to their wellbeing - that manifests itself, if not while present with them, in our prayers for them, earnestly desiring their salvation, and wholeness, and reconciliation. And should the opportunity arise that you might find an open door to mend the relationship, be quick to try - trusting in the Lord, because "love hopes all things". I will pray for you! Love in Christ, Mark |
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2 | How to honor estranged parents? | Ex 20:12 | painterofnight | 175290 | ||
Thanks very much Mark. That is another very good way to look at it. I do wish them the best, but its very hard to be happy with them all the time. I try. Thanks again! Gloria |
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3 | How to honor estranged parents? | Ex 20:12 | mark d seyler | 175308 | ||
Hi Gloria, "Happy with them" is another thing entirely! I don't quite know how to be happy with someone who is systematically destroying themself and everything around them that they can. But to love them (which Biblically is to devote ourselves to their ultimate well-being), that is our highest calling, and if we can love those who are considered unlovable, in this way we are like God. Love in Christ, Mark |
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4 | How to honor estranged parents? | Ex 20:12 | painterofnight | 175342 | ||
"Happy with them" is another thing entirely!..." haha! I know. But, when I'm not happy with someone, my thoughts aren't very loving. Another thing I'm working on.... I appreciate your help, Mark. Have a great day! Gloria |
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