My youngest child has this heart! It's the size of Canada!!! It's big, bold and beautiful! It often astonishes me! She loves fiercely! But MAN! She can battle just as fiercely! Like most young children, she often doesn't know or understand what she is battling for! All she knows sometimes, is that another person's heart is breaking. When she sees that pain - she instantly wants to fix it! Anything to take that pain away! To make their live better! Happier! (If we could all just love that way!)
Which leads us right into the 5th Commandment:
Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and mother, then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
These words are repeated over and over again throughout scripture. Like Deuteronomy 5:16 echoes the same words. Exodus 21:15 says, "Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death."
Now there are many verses, that if you left them standing alone, could become confusing, and they could be interpreted a hundred different ways. Some that could possibly do some people more harm than good, if left standing alone. It is very important to read before and after a verse that speaks to you! So, you get the full context! Otherwise, it's like pulling the middle of a conversation out, and repeating it! Well, now you are left to make up your own beginning! And you are left with drawing your own conclusion! Since we all think differently! Guess what!?!? This story has now turned into hundreds of different stories. We will have missed out on the truth of the original story. It is now some tail, that other people are hearing, and it sounds kinda right, so they go with it. This is the danger of false doctrine (Which we will not get into today!) (This is why we shouldn't gossip! Keep to your own stories!)
But God didn't throw a bunch of jumbled scripture into a book either! They are laid out in chapters inside of books! Some scriptures can tell a whole story, and that's why we use them! Some don't, and that's why I often don't use just one verse! It may need the next one or few to support it!
Here is where my child comes in. She comes to me with this Commandment, and starts with: "But what if someone's parents beat them? Or what if someone's parents starve them? What if they have to sit at the table and watch everyone else eat, and they get nothing? What about the children that are locked in closets for days at a time? Or locked up in dog cages? What about the children that are never sent to school? And nobody knows that they even exist? Will God punish those children for hating their parents? Will God punish them for not obeying them? Will God punish them if they get the chance to escape?"
First of all- the shock and horror that filled every crevice of my body that my baby knows all of these things that happen in this evil twisted world! My heart broke! Right there in my living room! Secondly- I had to know if she personally knew of a child that was in this situation! And third- That is a very valid question!!! Are those children supposed to honor their parents? No matter what??
If you let those verses stand-alone- the gut-wrenching response would be- yes. But like I said, verses are not meant to stand alone. Which brought us to Ephesians 6:1-4 during our conversation, which says, "Children obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2. Honor you father and mother, this is the first Commandment with a promise; 3. if you honor your father and mother, things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on earth. 4. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord."
Psalms 127:3 says, "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him."
So, you see, this is a two-way street!! Children are gifts from God!!! They are to be loved and cherished! they are to be taught right from wrong! Children should feel comfortable crawling into their parent's laps whether it is to snuggle, or to seek comfort! They should not go hungry! They should never fear for their next meal!!
If a child's needs are not being met, or they live in constant fear- and they find an outlet to seek help, I can only believe that it would be of God to offer that outlet. To save that child. For God cherishes His children. Sadley, different children, and different circumstances force us to look deeper, and see that a child in a non-Christian home, that lives in fear daily. Whether it's fear of being abused, or being neglected, and they are wanting and yearning for the love that they so deserve! Will be different than a child in a Christian home, that always feels secure.
Your children are a gift from God!! As parents we are entrusted to care for them!! Love your children!! They will love and honor you!
Until next time:
Number 6:24-26
24. May the Lord bless you and protect you!
25. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you!
26. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace!
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