If we honor our father and mother it will go well with us. For some of us, this is very easy. For others it is very difficult due to the heartache, maybe disappointment or hurt our parents have caused. Like most, I had to work through the hiccups from my childhood even though I was raised in a good home. The truth of the matter is that no one was raised in a perfect home and we have a choice to make when it comes to our parents. Do we forgive and release them trusting Jesus with our life or do we walk in bitterness and hurt from the pain caused by their imperfections? As I became a parent and my kids got older I learned the power of grace. Parenting is not easy and I have two parents that loved me deeply and fought hard for me…for that I’m so thankful. I’ve also learned to focus on all the good and not dwell on their imperfections. I would hope that my kids would do the same to me. My parents are still young and full of life but I do try and find opportunities to pour back into them. One thing is for sure, love and grace flow more freely from a grateful heart than a broken one.
Lord, you know all of our family dynamics, specifically our relationship with our parents. You know the good, the bad and the ugly. Fully mend our hearts so that we can honor you through honoring our parents. Give us the strength to heal and release our parents back to you. So that we can love freely. In Jesus name, amen.