What if everyone isn’t so very nice?
While Ray and I were doing errands in nearby Cookeville recently, we saw a huge and unusual storm cloud. These are some shots I took from east to west. We got inside before the rain hit and by the time we were out again, the storm had passed. Other storms we experience in life are far from quick.
I wrote recently about the Doodle for Google winner who created an illustration of herself taking care of her mother someday. When I wrote it, I thought about situations in which adult children face the need to honor parents who don’t live in an honorable way.
Afterwards, a mama asked a question about that very subject. This is a terrible spot to be in. In extreme cases when a parent’s actions are particularly harmful, their adult children must love and honor from afar in order to keep their own children safe. With deep compassion and a humble heart, I want to share some situations in the Bible that can help you navigate this tough spot.
The conflict that King David experienced in his family was horrible. David’s son Absalom tried to usurp his father’s throne. His actions brought great shame on himself and his family. Still, David loved his wayward son. When Absalom died:
The king was deeply moved
and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept.
And thus he said as he walked,
“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
Would I had died instead of you,
O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33
We, too, can love and honor without approving.
Many wives and mamas are married to husbands who are not faithful to God. God helps these mamas in 1 Peter.
In the same way, you wives,
be submissive to your own husbands
so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word,
they may be won without a word
by the behavior of their wives,
as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
1 Peter 3:1
Jesus is the ultimate example of honoring those who are not worthy of honor.
For while we were still helpless,
at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man;
though perhaps for the good man
someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8