Honor the Family

Each year we have the honor of our mother, Mom Saladin, (there is no mother-in-law in my vocabulary) coming to the mountains to watch the leaves turn and spend some time with us.  This lady has experienced so much from her childhood in upstate New York to the years in Florida.  Those years have not been easy and she became a great nurse and nurse supervisor.  More importantly is to see how her children serve the Lord  only comes from her strong efforts and should give her the highest praise.

It is great to spend time with her and hear her history.  To her I give honor. 

Yet I hear so many people talk about their elderly family members with dis-stain and hate the idea of taking care of them in the future.  They just want to put them away in a home and live their life.  Where is the Honor in that? 

I understand that many people do not have the facilities to take care of a senior family member but I think of my grandmother and grandfather.  My grandmother had a brother who was deaf from age 3.  So took care of him because in the 1930's and 40's the deaf did not get an education so Frank never received any education because he could not speak more than a grunt.  When she got married to my grandfather and her parents passed away, Frank moved in with them.  He worked hard on the farm but took a lot of grief from my dad and his brother.  They would tease him and sneak around him just to make him mad.

Yet my grandmother never took him to a deaf home because she felt that being family meant that you took care of your own.  Frank lived for 78 years and was one of the hardest working farmers' I knew.  As a young man I recall my dad talking to him in a simple sign language about Jesus.  He learned that Jesus loved Frank and died for him.  I remember Frank's baptism as he came out of the water, Frank let out a loud grunt and smiled. 

So I learned to give Honor to family members who help hold families together and those who serve as an example of the Love of the Creator.

I only have memories now of my parents and honor what they taught me and the direction they give me in life.  Today as Mom Saladin heads tomorrow it has been a pleasure and honor to spend time with her.

Who do you need to give honor?  Do it while they are alive?  Is there someone you want to give  honor to today.  Give them a call or go see them.  Tomorrow may be to late.