Often we search for our God, not in the usual spiritual realm of prayer, but rather the limited gift of vision that our Lord has granted us. All this searching and imagining the immense beauty of God will be in vain, if we fail to remember that He is shown to us in the forms that are already very familiar to most of us – parents.

God wants us to obey our parents

Our Father, in all his immense wisdom, knew what struggles we faced in the world, and so established parenthood so that we might not go astray. God Himself has said, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” This is His Commandment, to which we are indebted to follow. And not surprisingly, many of us find it hard. It’s human nature to reject authority; it has been throughout history. Have you watched your parents sleep?

But in overcoming that nature and in subjecting ourselves to our parents, reaps the benefits that no one else can provide. Imagine the time you were born, when our innocence was at its peak, and we were unaware of the joys we brought to the minds of our parents. And as we grew up, many of us heard the stories of the waiting, the prayers, and the happiness in which we were received.

Strains of Parenthood

But seldom parents show the consequences of parenthood. The strain, the tension, and the expenses, especially in this day and age where vanity and sinful addictions are inflicted on our generation by our peer group. There hasn’t been a worse time to be a parent. And yet they go through it with patience and diligence, correcting us in ways that might be pleasant enough to understand and sometimes just the opposite. They toil through hours of work and prayer in hope that one day we will turn out right, successful, and spiritual.

And yet we put them through so much pain. How many times have we demanded reparation for doing a simple chore? How many times have we cheated our parents in order to sneak out to that party or hang out with friends? These are all personal questions that we must all answer and think…whether we are right in what we are doing. Surprisingly, I find that many of the people I know think that their parents deserve the hate and the cheating that they often put up. Never leave your parents.

Why? Abusive parents, parents that drink a lot, parents that just are too strict to even let kids wear non-collared shirt…it’s a horrible life for some. However, all parents have their flaws, and we as their own offspring are the first to find it and keep staring at it for the rest of our lives. I know parents have their scary sides to them yet they are parents.

It is the duty of the parents to become the models of humility and service in front of their children.

They gave LIFE to us. They own our lives. Do they demand the thousands of dollars spend on us back? Do they grumble about our existence? No… therefore they deserve our respect. Sure, flaws may be numerous to count but instead of mocking them, pray to God our father to bestow them with wisdom to do what is right.

If our faith and humility before our parents is sincere, it is enough to ensure miracles in our social, physical, mental, and especially family life. And in being good to our parents and understanding them, we gain a blessing of enjoying a good parenthood as well. Knowing how worse each generation is getting, it is only the grace of God we can use to assure good children when we are parents ourselves.

Also read the divine relationship between Parents and Children.

- – - written by Asish Thomas, California

“Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving” (Deut 5:16). Parents who cooperate with God in the act of creation deserve the primary place in the family. Therefore the act of creation should be consummated in a state of grace and mutual love. It is not from the body but from the spirit a child is born. Therefore children are not of the parents but of God.

When children look at their father, they should see in him divine fatherhood. Parents and children are bonded together by love and blood relationship. Parental relations are very close to divine relationship and divine decisions are conveyed through parents. Generations are blessed through the parents. In the bible, we see how Jacob blesses his twelve children by foreseeing the divine scheme regarding them. We can even see story of a competition between Jacob and Esau to get the blessing from the father by pleasing him. Blessing will flow freely on to those children who obey their parents. “For a father’s blessing strengthens the houses of the children, but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations” (Sir 3:9)

It is good to make an examination to find out whether behind the problems and crises faced by some children there is a lack of blessings from parents. This might be the reason for some families not achieving success in spite of their strenuous endeavors. In order not to bring up the tears of parents before God, children and parents should forgive, bless and love one another and pray earnestly. If the parents don’t do that, their children will never be successful.

Only when there are model couples there will be children who would be upright. The defects and character traits of parents can be seen throughout their life. Parents who are alcoholic and drug addicts, who spend their wealth prodigally, who spend their days in fights and other idle pursuits, are destroying their progeny. If children don’t obey and respect their parents, parents should examine themselves to see if there was any deficiency in their children’s upbringing.

Parents have a responsibility to bring up their children in the fear and love of God. Parents should be exemplary models to their children in things like tolerance, love, mutual respect, unprejudiced affection, unselfish love, fidelity and humility. They have an obligation to help the children choose their vocation.

“Pamper the child, and he will terrorize you; play with him and will grieve you. Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him, and in the end you will gnash your teeth. Give him no freedom in his youth, and do not ignore his errors. Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat his sides while he is young, or else he will become stubborn and disobey you, and you will have sorrow of soul from him” (Sirach 30: 9-12)

- – - written by Surjith Jacob

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, took a nap under the shadow…he loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by…the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.

One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad . “Come and play with me” the tree asked the boy. “I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more” the boy replied. “I want toys. I need money to buy them.” “Sorry, but I do not have money… but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money.” The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was deeply saddened.

One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited “Come and play with me” the tree said. “I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me ? ” ” Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.” So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and upset.

One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted. “Come and play with me!” the tree said. “I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat ?” said the man . “Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.” So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the man returned after many years. ” Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you anymore. No more apples for you …” the tree said. “No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite” the man replied. “No more trunk for you to climb on” “I am too old for that now” the man said. “I really cannot give you anything… the only thing left is my dying roots” the tree said with tears. “I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years” the man replied. “Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, Come, come sit down with me and rest.” The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears…

————————— ———————————– —————————-

This is a story for everyone. The tree is like our parents.

When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad…

When we grow up, we leave them…only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.

You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents.

We take them for granted we don’t appreciate all they do for us, UNTIL it’s too late. May GOD forgive us of our shortcomings and may He Guide us. Amen.

Love your Parents…………..

And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say:

“My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.”