What Does Honor Your Parent(s) or Guardian(s) Mean To You?

I would always hear in the church or the neighborhood by elder people, "You supposed to honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord, your God, is giving you."

So I would do things like talk back or disobey what my parents told me. I would do the same thing with my grandma, just behind her back because Grandma Ada would plat those three stitches together and wet them. You see, there was no such thing as child abuse back then. She would take to my buttocks. When I was being disobedient. They would say, "Child, you are shortening your days on Earth." I be like hum to myself, "Yeah, right. I am still living."

So today I want to teach the children what it means, according to Exodus 20:12, to honor your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land the Lord, your God, is giving you. Your land could be your stay in Bainbridge, GA with your mom and dad, or just your grandma or mom or dad.

Having parents or guardians who love you and care about our wellbeing is a blessing. So many children are homeless, in group homes, juvenile, etc. Count your blessings, but count them the right way. Exodus 20:12: this is the first commandment with a promise attached to it, to live in peace for generations—

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—has temple on our bodies. You don't let nobody defile your temple, not even your parent(s) or guardian(s). Especially if it goes against the will of God.

I was one who finds it difficult to honor my mom because I respected her but she had me doing things that would disobey the will of God. I am grown. I still respect her, but witchcraft and voodoo is against God's will. I pray for her. I travel to minister to her. But her ears are closed. Don't get me wrong, I love my mom. But she is not going to take me down a road of destruction.

So do not let anyone put a guilt trip on you if you know your parent(s) or guardian(s) got something going on that can bring destruction in your life. Because you don't want to be no part of the wrong lifestyle. Church people saying, "That's your parent(s)/guardian(s), you got to forgive." Who's to say you haven't forgiven them? You don't have to talk to them or be around them if their lifestyle hasn't changed just to forgive them. You can forgive, move on, and pray for that person's deliverance. That doesn't mean you do not love them or don't honor them.

Please, babies, get into your Word yourself so that nobody will have you in bondage. Youth, be encouraged. I love you all.

Written by
Jennifer Johnson