Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- August 15, 2013
Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise. Ephesians 6:2
Aging parents are a gift from Almighty God. How many children have the opportunity to grow old with their mom and dad? Some see disease or an accident snatch away their mother or father before they become elderly. It is a blessing to support those who may have supported us over the years. To serve and honor our parents is to serve and honor Jesus. Yes, caring for them is a picture to a lost world of how our Heavenly Father cares for us. Aging parents are God’s excuse to love.
How can we help our aging parents in a way that honors them? What if they don’t want assistance, but find themselves in a very needy situation? Build up relational equity with your mother and father before their bodies begin to break down. Don’t wait until they really slow down, before you start your service to them. Dignify the aging process by honoring them along the way. They’ll feel more comfortable as you continue your care, as mentally they are less aware.
Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32
Receive whatever level of engagement your loved ones allow. You may have total access to their finances, if so seek to co-manage their money with them. They may invite you into the inner sanctuary of their soul for spiritual support, do so with humble prayers, Bible reading and church attendance, if they are able. Perhaps you join your mom and dad in their conversations with their physician. Ask questions as their advocate. Or, maybe they move in with you for a season.
Most of all pray aggressively for your aging parents. Pray for them to feel the caring comfort of Christ in their heart and His peace in their mind. Pray for them to come to know Jesus in a personal relationship of trust in His death and resurrection for their salvation. Pray for opportunities for you to love them to the Lord and to share the gospel. Pray for yourself to patiently model the grace of God. Aging parents are not about our convenience, but their honor.
Love is patient. 1 Corinthians 13:4
Prayer: Heavenly Father, give me favor with my parents to love and honor them as You do.
Related Readings: Malachi 1:6; Matthew 15:5-7; Romans 13:7; 1 Timothy 5:1-2; Titus 2:2-3
Post/Tweet today: Aging parents are not about our convenience, but their honor. #honoragingparents
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© 2013 by Boyd Bailey. All rights reserved.
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God knew I needed this today.
OH MY HEART – JESUS JUST GETS SWEETER AND SWEETER AS HE TOUCHES ME MORE ABOUT HIS AMAZING LOVE – going thru this right now with aging parents – stressful, tearful, funny, rewarding – THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING TIMELY WORD!
I’m here RIGHT NOW. These words were great encouragement. I didn’t have the wisdom to anticipate it. Thanks for helping me “catch up” a bit.
It has been great to hear him speak to me in a way he has not ever as he continues to mourn the loss of his wife of 57 years, my mom.