The Tribute and the Promise: How Honoring Your Parents Will Bring a Blessing to Your Life

Words cannot adequately express the truly extraordinary power that exists in the writings of this wonderful book. It underscores the Great promise from God. We are to Honor or Father and Mother so that it will be well with us and we will also inherit a long life. This book highlights the importance of that first commandment with Great promise. Have you ever had someone compliment you and afterward you wondered if was a compliment or a criticism? Today, in our continued study on relationships, we study God's plan for the relationship between parents and children. God gives a wonderful promise to children who have the right relationship with their parents. When we examine that promise we find that it is more than simply a promise. Is it a promise and a threat? A promise or a prediction? On the other side of the relationship, what obligations to parents have to their children? Let's dive into God's Word and find out! The Promise of Life and Death Read Exodus 20:12. Parents, how many of you think the Ten Commandments are no longer binding on humans? (I thought so!) All of you parents are also children. We see the advantage for parents in this text. Children, what advantage do we see for you? (The command says that honoring your parents allows you a long life.) What do you think it means to "honor" your parents? (Read Ephesians 6:1-3. Paul equates "honor your parents" with "obey your parents.") What promise does Paul see as a result of obeying your parents? (A long and better life.) Is length of life what is actually being promised in Exodus 20:12? If you say "yes," why does the command add "in the land the Lord your God is giving you?" (Ephesians clearly interprets this to mean long individual life. However, the additional phrase in Exodus 20:12 seems to link "honoring" parents to the existence of the nation.) What link do you see between honoring parents and the continued existence of a nation? Read Exodus 21:15 & 17. What connection do these texts have to length of life for children who do not honor their parents? (This is clearly another reason why dishonoring parents was tied to a short life.) Leviticus 20:9 and Proverbs 20:20 also prescribe the death penalty for cursing (repudiating the authority) of parents. Should we have laws like that today? If we did, how would society be different? Read Deuteronomy 21:18-21. I doubt that parents loved their children less in those days than they do now. Would you bring your son to the local elders? Did Samson's parents bring him before the elders? (In Judges 14 we read of what appeared to be stubborn and rebellious conduct by Samson. I've got to wonder how many parents really had their sons stoned. The Bible Knowledge Commentary states that "no record in the Bible or in extra-biblical literature has come to light which indicates that this punishment was ever carried out.") If, as I would guess, parents did not often (or ever) have their sons stoned, then why do you

An easy read; it was hard to put it down. It encouraged me (with many helpful suggestions and examples) to write separate tributes to my parents (they are divorced), and I'm so glad I did. For me, reconciling with my parents at 35 years of age was the first step towards healing old hurts. I have more peace and feel better prepared to move forward in my present relationships, both with my parents and with others, knowing that I have tried to be obedient to the Word of God.

Dennis wrote this book with a clear understand of why God put the 5th commandment in the top category in the last six commandments on having Relational Wholenss and fulfilling the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself. This book really gives spiritual help in uncovering bitter roots in the violations of the 5th commandment. When you really deal with your heart and make good choices to forgive and honor you find relief from the curse and receive the blessing. The blessing of living a long life and prospering. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK! Every Christian who desires to go deep in God must read this book.

I absolutely loved this book and took the ideas and suggestions to not only compose my own tribute to my mother, but to assist others and even teach a class on doing this type of tribute. As stated in the book, writing and presenting a tribute to your parent is an incredibly powerful experience. I have seen healing for the adult child and have seen stoic parents break down and cry. Read this book and act on the principles it offers. I believe they are especially needed in this day of "blame the folks for evrything."