Showing honour to your parents is a vital key to success and comes with huge benefits as stated in the scriptures; ‘Honour your father and mother, so that you may live long and it may go well with you’ Deuteronomy 5:16
Most parents do the best they can to raise their children well and give them the best they can afford. Nevertheless, there are still parents that are bad and even abusive. Undoubtedly, it can be challenging to show honour or respect to parents that have not been the most supportive or worse still, very abusive.
In the case of abusive parents, you cannot be blamed if you decide not to see them or speak to them again. However, your reasons will not negate the consequences of breaking this Godly principles of success which is honouring your parents. The instruction did not say to honour them only when they are good, but because they are your parents (mother and father) – Meaning they gave birth to you or raised you as their child.
Note; This honour comes with benefits that includes long life, success and prosperity as a result of just honouring your parents – Remarkable! But one can appreciate that this is not an easy prospect for some people who have had very difficult parents. However, when you consider the priceless benefits, its worth reconsidering, no matter the terrible things they had done. It is wise not to dishonour your parents (especially publicly) as they represent your origin and foundation. Unfortunately, people do this out of ignorance. Ignorance will never exempt you from the repercussions of acting irrationally towards your parents and disregarding this vital success principle.
Let us consider some ways to honour or dishonour parents;
Ways to Honour your parents;
- Show them gratitude: – Appreciate them for however they supported you while growing up. Young people often take it for granted that parents don’t need any gratitude or appreciation for raising their children. This is far from the truth because everyone needs to be appreciated or encouraged. An attitude of gratitude (especially towards your parents), triggers a positive response which nurtures healthier relationships and evokes parental blessings.
- Celebrate your parents: – Celebrate them when you can afford to. Such as mothers day, fathers day, birthdays etc. Without much money in this digital age, there are many creative ways to celebrate your parents.
- Do not abandon your parents: – When they are old or need support be there for them. They maybe old or frail, but remember, in old age even if they don’t have much money, they have wise counsel which could prove priceless in helping you navigate life’s decisions and avoid some big pitfalls. As the scripture admonishes ‘Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old’ Proverbs 23:22.
Protecting and supporting your parents when the roles have changed, is pleasing to God. You will surely get a good reward for your dedication.
Ways you can Dishonour your parents include;
- Embarrassing your parents in public: I have seen youngsters embarrass their parents publicly in front of friends or strangers, because they think it makes them cool to appear disrespectful towards their parents. This attitude is irresponsible and reflects a sense of pride or ego that can be destructive. Just as parents should be cautious about embarrassing their grown children in public, one of the worse things to do, is to embarrass your parents in public. This attitude will attract the opposite of long life and well-being; setting yourself up for failures or untimely death. (Scary!). Unless the parent is behaving really badly and the only way to stop them is by doing something drastic or unprecedented, try to be diplomatic, avoid public embarrassment and sort your differences in private.
- You generally dishonour your parents when you behave contrary to the ways highlighted above as how to honour them.
Read more about ways to dishonour your parents;
If you have been dishonouring your parents out of ignorance. It is never too late to change your ways or forgive whatever they had done. Start to honour them and make amends if they are still alive. If you will not do it just for them, do it for your own good. Good Luck!
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