Earning the Payoff

(Pro 23:22 KJV) Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

The Bible is full of standards that have been rejected by our culture and generations before us.  Here is another one:  Respect for our parents.  One thing that gives me a hard time is that there is no qualifier about the parents being worthy.  I guess we could assume it but children who are inclined to discredit their parents already have their mind made up.  Is it because the parents did a bad job or just because the kids are so steeped in sin that they can’t see straight?

On the other side, we as parents are called to be worthy of respect.  That means that we understand our place is to be foundations and not friends.  We are builders of young lives not buddies of narcissistic teen-agers.  The call is to be worthy even if they don’t see it.

So?  I write after going to dinner with my daughter and grandson.  It was a glorious time.  It wasn’t always that way when she was being raised.  I hope you have the same joy I do.