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.”

Devotion based on Ephesians 6:1-3

People are all very different. We come in different shapes, sizes, and shades. We have different cultures and histories, priorities and abilities. Among all our differences, there is at least one thing that we share: We all have had parents. Every single person to ever walk this earth has had a mom and dad.

For many of us, it is these parents who teach us what it means to be human. They are our first personal encounter with unconditional love. They give us our first tangible rules and enforce the consequences when we fail to adhere to those rules. Love, obedience, care, and responsibility are all shown by our parents and then copied by us as we grow.

Our responsibility to our parents is to honor them. Even after we are grown and on our own, we are to honor our parents. Whether your parents gave you a lot or a little, God would have you honor them.

You may not come running to the table anymore when they call you for dinner, but honoring parents will always include listening to them and hearing their words. You may no longer present them with a handful of dandelions picked from the yard, but you are still to esteem them for their role in your lives. You may not say prayers with them before bed any longer, but may their names always be on your list of prayers.

God gave us a good gift when he gave us parents. May we always honor our father and mother.

Prayer: