THE TEN – Sixth Commandment

God speaks to his people with COMMANDS, not “it would really be nice if”, but “musts” about how our relationship with Him is supposed to be. With the sixth commandment from God, Himself, He turns our attention from how we treat and honor HIM to how our relationships with each other should be and what we should do…or shouldn’t do. God begins with our parents. I wonder why? Is it because He is OUR Heavenly Father? Is it because this relationship is of “next to God” importance? I ask myself these questions because I am now in a phase of life where this is a very PERSONAL commandment that God has called me to live out every day.

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD you God will give you.” Exodus 20:12, NLT

In 2008, I felt compelled, “called if you will” to take this commandment to a far deeper commitment. My parents were aging and in poor health. Dad was trying to care for mom in the best ways he could. But I saw with each visit, from a thousand miles away from them, that this wasn’t going to be best for long. I suggested that they sell their home and move closer to us. That suggestion was not acceptable, at first. Then they realized it would be better for them. Mom, surprisingly enough, began to think about it as “an adventure”.
No, I’m not that good a “salesperson”, with prayer, God put that in her heart. My parents are not positive thinking people so I knew this was in God’s hands.

When the decision was made to say yes to moving, we sold their home for a great price (another God-thing), reduced the amount of stuff they had collected in a “life-time”, and moved them to a brand new apartment, close to us. They were also close to our three kids and grandkids. They could now take joy in seeing them more often.

One year later, I completing understood God’s urgency for me to “honor my parents” and help them make this move. Mom grew steadily worse and passed away, leaving dad devastated. He became so distraught, that he could no longer live alone. Mom was the “business person”, taking care of all financial and other decisions of that nature. Dad had trouble even writing checks. Now, it’s me who must take care of “business.”

He moved in with us. We gave him half our house as a place to live in privacy or to be with us. His choice. He contributes to the household income for that exchange. We cook, clean and take care of doctor visits and the like, but most of all…he is not alone.

This transition was not easy. It still isn’t easy, but doable. It makes me cry a little inside when I need to remind him what he used to tell me as a child, “Shut the door, it’s cold outside.” “Put the lid back on or it will spoil.” “You, probably need a coat today.” “Did you take a bath?” “Have you eaten?” That last one is almost comical. He eats all day long, grazing on whatever is close by. That way if he forgets he has eaten or not, he is covered. Then there’s the daily doses of big heaping bowls of chocolate chunk ice cream that is consumed every three to four hours, as needed. That’s not me, he says it’s his “medicine”. Who am I to argue? I’m too busy “honoring my father” with the greater details of this relationship.

So what is this commandment and the top five really about? Love God, Love others. Simple. Hard at times in this world that tells you differently, but simple and doable. It is from God. It is a must do.

Dear Heavenly Father, YOUR timing in all we are and what we do is amazing to us. YOU are amazing! We love YOU back and we are trying love others in the same ways You love us. Help us to be more and more like You in the ways we help others and honor our mothers and fathers. In Jesus Name, Amen