Monday, May 13, 2013
By: Gwen Hitt
The Importance of EVERYDAY
Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."
Have you ever felt totally let down the morning after an event that took you days, weeks, or even months to plan for because the excitement surrounding the event was now over?
Yesterday was Mother's Day, and many mothers were showered with lots of attention which is a wonderful thing. BUT remember ....there is always the day after the big day!
Have you considered what you are going to do for your loved ones on the other 300+ days of the year?? I can truly relate to the difficulty of fitting anything else in our busy schedules. How do we find the time to show our parents the same honor EVERYDAY that is bestowed upon them on their two special days - Mother's Day and Father's Day?
I believe that the answer to this question can be found in Matthew 7:12 ---- "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you." I believe that just spending time with our parents or doing little things for them that they can't do for themselves is often more appreciated than elaborate gifts or gestures on only two days out of the year. In addition, it is important to note that our own children are watching and LEARNING from our actions. If we hope to be honored by them, they need to see us doing the same for others.
Sadly, many of us do not have one or more of our parents still with us. If this is your situation, please know that the Bible provides another opportunity for us to continue doing His work in this area. He states the following in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress....."
My challenge to you and to me for today and EVERYDAY is to shower an abundance of love, care, concern, respect, etc. on those that God has placed in our lives. Remember, if we do, He promises in His Word to give us a "long life." How can we pass up this great deal???
Dear Lord, Thank you for giving me the opportunity to care for my parents and others as You would care for them. Teach me to love and honor them more and more each and EVERYDAY. I am grateful to Your promise of the long life that You will give to me if I am obedient in doing Your will!
I also thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.
