HONOR YOUR MOTHER, SO THAT YOU . . .

"Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise; so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Ephesians 6:2-3 (NIV)

"But, you make it sound so easy! Maybe I didn’t have a mother I could honor," some complain.

I was blessed with two wonderful parents. God does not call angels to be parents, he calls humans, flawed but trying to parents within their capacity to love, nurture and protect. Some parent’s capacity is not large enough to parent, but that doesn’t mean they don’t love.

I have heard this protest spoken about mothers and/or fathers from people who have had a difficult childhood - whatever their circumstances. But, read the passage from Ephesians 6:2-3 again. It’s really not for the parent’(s) benefit that you honor them; it is for YOUR benefit . . . "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

We have all seen them, the walking-wounded who go through life with justified anger shooting out of every pore of their body. That hate/anger-acid is caustic to personal relationships, work opportunities and the body. That kind of acid eats away at the stomach lining, the heart and the brain, to name a few.

Anger erupts like molten lava and leaves stones in its terrible flow, not obsidian (beautiful Apache tears) but the cold, hard frozen sludge that buries us under its pain. You may not be able to trust your parent with the treasures of your life that bring you the greatest joy. They have had a history of trampling on your dreams. But, you can treat them with respect and leave the anger at the throne of God. Let us all pray for families: the broken, the resurrected, and the loving:

" Our father, you are faithful in your love for us. Like the angels in heaven, we enjoy your presence, when we believe you are there. May your love fill each home and create families of love and support. On this day after Mother’s Day, we ask to be released from any anger we may have for a mother, a father, a sister or a brother. We are so much more than the anger that people see and the anger we feel in our heart and body. We are yours and yours alone. Forgive us when we have not called on you to erase the negative emotions from our lives, and then lived lives of freedom. For today, we say, ‘Father, I give you all my anger May only your love remain in my heart. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear when I must lean on you more so as not to be taken down again. But, Lord, I believe in you and your promise of life.’ In the name of Jesus, your son, I pray. Amen"

Doris
"God gives us stories that testify to His love. Let me tell you mine."Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

I will be signing Smoke from Distant Fires at Barnes and Noble in Sarasota. FL on June 21 from 1-3 pm. See you there if you’re in Florida.

Website: www.dorisgainesrapp.com

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