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| Mothers' Day Cake crop (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Proverbs 23:22
English Standard Version (ESV)
Mother's Day is one of the days of the year when the most long distance calls are made, the most flowers are delivered, the most greeting cards are sent, and the most people go out to restaurants. Treating Mom special is almost an obligatory rite for many on this day. But shouldn't we make every day like Mother's Day. And more than this shouldn't we let go of any bad feelings we may have about our mothers?
Even if we think we've had the worst parents in the world, we might be looking at them with an obscured vision. Perhaps we need to try to look at them through God's eyes. Most of us have had parents who nurtured us to some extent at least and saw us into our adult lives. Especially those of us who made it to adult life and still have one or both parents still living, maybe we need to step into our own adult shoes and view our parents from a grown up perspective.
I'm sure it's difficult for some of you. I was lucky. I had parents who obviously cared deeply for me, but they made their mistakes as well. Would I gain anything dwelling on those mistakes? We all have bad things that happen to us in life no matter how good our parents have been to us. The point I'm trying to stress is to avoid dwelling on the bad things and enjoy the happy parts of the past. And even more importantly, find the happiness in the present and strive toward the best future you can possibly make.
We cannot change the past and the present is the time to stop holding people accountable for past mistakes. Hopefully if apologies are due they will be offered and forgiveness can come in return. Don't harp on things you can't do anything about and avoid bitterness and hatred.
What do you want to add to the world--positivity or negativity? When people get older, their habits and attitudes become more ingrained. People can be difficult to change and the more you fight them, the more entrenched they become in what they believe.
If you are dealing with an older parent, love them as best you can. Sure, they might be an inconvenience to your life at times and they might even stir your negative emotions. Remember that one day you too might reach their age. What will you be afraid of? What will you worry about? What pains or difficulties will you have to deal with? Put yourself in your parents' shoes. How will you want to be treated when your day comes?
I'm sure it's difficult for some of you. I was lucky. I had parents who obviously cared deeply for me, but they made their mistakes as well. Would I gain anything dwelling on those mistakes? We all have bad things that happen to us in life no matter how good our parents have been to us. The point I'm trying to stress is to avoid dwelling on the bad things and enjoy the happy parts of the past. And even more importantly, find the happiness in the present and strive toward the best future you can possibly make.
We cannot change the past and the present is the time to stop holding people accountable for past mistakes. Hopefully if apologies are due they will be offered and forgiveness can come in return. Don't harp on things you can't do anything about and avoid bitterness and hatred.
What do you want to add to the world--positivity or negativity? When people get older, their habits and attitudes become more ingrained. People can be difficult to change and the more you fight them, the more entrenched they become in what they believe.
If you are dealing with an older parent, love them as best you can. Sure, they might be an inconvenience to your life at times and they might even stir your negative emotions. Remember that one day you too might reach their age. What will you be afraid of? What will you worry about? What pains or difficulties will you have to deal with? Put yourself in your parents' shoes. How will you want to be treated when your day comes?
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “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 6:1-3
New International Version (NIV)
