Grandparent's Day (how do we honor?
We live in a time of rampant child abuse and neglect. Many of the grandparents of the troubled kids with whom I work were druggies in the 60's & 70's. The particular individuals whom I have in mind have certainly grown older, but not wiser. I'm often told by their grandchildren, "I don't respect them and I won't respect them."
For too many kids Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day and any other 'mandate' to celebrate the existence of a parental figure is a time of tremendous frustration and anger.
These 'kids' don't have to be minors to experience this angst on at least an annual basis. Many adults are torn with feelings that range from guilt to rage over their inability to respect their parents or grandparents.
Back to the youth in a 'lock-up'...my response is that I'm not asking them to respect those folks who are not respectable. GOD doesn't expect, nor require, us to respect those who aren't respectable, even if those individuals are our parents!
What the Bible is clear about is that the practice of 'honoring' brings its own rewards to the person who honors. This is an old exercise of philosophy that was being discussed at least 350 years before Christ. We know that from the time of Aristotle all the way through the era of Thomas Aquinas there was academic discussion of who possesses honor and who benefits from that practice of exercising honor.
When a child understands that honor is theirs to possess and to bestow...and that respect is something the other person has to earn, they are set free to be honest in their emotions and relationships.
No, they don't have to bestow honor...but if they will, it will bring them into an empowerment that feels good, does good, and has good returns. This is true whether or not the recipient is responsive to the honoring or is even honorable.
So, "Honor thy father and thy mother" becomes a do-able thing for a youngster whose mother or father or grandparents have not earned their respect. The youngster can advance a huge step into maturity by taking possession of honor and bestowing it upon even someone who has been abusive, or has been a lousy authority figure in their life.
This is a lesson that can bring great emotional freedom to anyone of any age who has struggled with guilt over not being able respect someone; whether a boss, spouse, parent, or child.
You possess honor, you can do with it as you please. The recipient doesn't have to be respectable or even honorable...but you can bestow as you wish.
Have a great day and 'honor' away!