Good day dear friends. For those of you who have been praying for Pam Grout's father, here is an update from them. David and Pam Grout live and serve the UMC in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Pam's father, who lives in Lexington, was in a serious car accident:
"Dear family and friends,
I wish there was a word to give you on Geroge's staus right now but the fact is nothing has changed. He was to have surgery on Saturday at 10:00 AM. Because of emergencies and higher priority surgeries he was pushed back all day and never actually had the surgery. It looks like it won't happen now until Tuesday. Needless to say that was very frustrating and tiring for all.
George is in good spirits and his vital signs are all very good. So, they will try again in a few days and see what happens. UK Med Center is the trauma center for all of central KY so there is a never ending stream of critical situations. The same thing could happen on Tuesday!
Please keep George and Marie in your prayers. I will write again to update when there is news to share.
Blessings to all,
David"
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the moms! We had a wonderful Sunday and our sermon was on "Who Our Parents Were/Are." We talked about what God expects and what we may have received or given from our parents or as parents ourselves. We had a service of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation at the end of the sermon.
We continue to discuss that as we study today's study guide:
Monday: Read again the passage from yesterday, Ephesians 6:1-4. Why do you suppose this passage was even written in the first place? Was there a need in this church to hear from Paul the instructions about how to live in relationships? Is there a need in your life to read those instructions to better live your life?
Here is that passage:
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: 3 “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4 And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
What church does not need to hear a sermon or a word about being more Christ-like? What church does not need to hear on a regular basis the message from God about how to act? In spite of what God shares through Sunday school lessons or sermons, not every one hears nor receives nor lives according to what is shared.
It is funny for me to read the two words used in those first two verses. When we had studied the Commandments and we came to the "Honor your father and mother" portion of them, our Sunday school teacher would automatically say, "This means to obey your parents!" No questions. Just straight Bible fact! One must obey one's parents. As children, that seemed easy enough. But as teenagers, knowing more than our parents, to obey them was another story! Why do what they say? Who wants to follow someone who seems to always say, "Do as I say, not as I do."? Where did they learn this phrase and what does it really mean other than, "I have complete power and authority over you and you must do what I say; and certainly do not copy my actions!"? Here the writer says in verse one to "obey." Then he quotes the Commandment of "Honor your father and your mother." Obedience and honor are not necessarily the same thing. Obedience means a willingness to follow and to do as commanded. As teenagers we had very little of that willingness and the "do-ing" part was seldom followed. We knew too much! Honor means to place in a category of respect that is special and elevated beyond others. To honor one's father and mother means to treasure them and realize who they are in our lives as special and meaningful.
To honor them means to appreciate them and to be thankful to them. I thank the Lord when that day of wisdom came to me and I repented of my "wisdom" and the judgment I had about the lack of wisdom on my parents' part. Honoring them became a more meaningful thing.
It's not easy to always be in a great relationship, even with our parents. As individuals we tend to have opinions that not every one shares. We have preconceived notions about almost any subject, especially parenting, and this may be the main cause of conflict between most parents and their adult children with children. It is so funny to see the shift come over those who had been stern but loving dads turn into mush when their first grandchild comes along. The same one who threatened to "spank my grandkids once they come along!" suddenly become the one who questions the need for having to raise our voice or hand to our children! "Why are you doing that to that poor baby?"
If we honor those with whom we are in relationship, we tend to enjoy a better time with them than with those we do not honor. Honor for me tends to include a provision for forgiveness and understanding including our willingness to forgive even when we know we were not at fault. In our closing service of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation, God led me to say that we may sometimes have to be the adult in those relationships with our parents or with older folks, just so that love and reonciliation may come. I've been surprised at the number of times I have said I am sorry to someone who was clearly at fault but only to have them immediately say, "No, I was the one at fault and I'm sorry." All it took was that first action on my part. And that's all it may take on yours.
PRAYER: Loving God, we thank you for the model of sacrificial love we find in Jesus. We praise You for what you shared about how we should live, especially with those who have loved us and provided for us. Let me this day honor all so that all my relationships be a blessing to me. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
