Love to hear from and know who is listening
The Christian music group, Mercy Me, has a song titled “My younger me.” The lyrics of the song start by saying: “ Dear younger me. Where do I start. If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far, then you could be one step ahead of all the painful memories still running thru my head. I wonder how much different things would be? Dear younger me.” I heard this song recently on the radio and it got me to thinking, just what would I say if I my 50 plus year old self could talk to my 16 year old self. I might start by saying, although it is a lot of fun you don't have to drive your car like your trying to out run the devil. I might also say, no matter what your friends say you can have fun without drugs and alcohol. Finally I might say, even though you think your parents are dumber than a box of rocks they are really a lot smarter than you think. You may think your a genius right now but when you get older you are gonna realize your not nearly as smart as you think you are. Finally, I think tell my younger self that if you don't listen to anything else I have say, listen to this. Just be obedient! Honor and respect your parents, your teachers, law enforcement and any other adult in your life.
Ephesians 6: 2-3 NIV Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.
This is the first commandment in the bible that comes with a promise. This commandment promises that If you honor your parents, it will go well with you and you will live a long life. Well, crap! I may be in trouble. When I was a child one of my main motivations in life was to do the opposite of what my parents told me. This may explain why I was always in trouble and why I got so many spankings and other discipline. If honoring your parents comes with the promise of a longer life, the mischief I caused as a teenager may have taken years off of my life!
Notice that the commandment does not say, "Obey your father and your mother." This is because honoring not only includes obedience it goes beyond obedience. Honoring suggests adding to, glorifying, embellishing and holding in high esteem your parents. Obedience can be given in a resentful manner, but honoring requires admiration, respect and even reverence. Honoring is something that usually does not happen as a child. It usually isn't achieved until adulthood, when the child has his or her own experiences as a parent and finally recognizes and begins to appreciate his parent's loving labors. Parents your not off the hook either. If you want your children to honor you, then you must teach your children the commandments of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6: 5-9 NIV Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
If children grow up not honoring God, the blame largely falls on the parents' shoulders. It cannot be accomplished by absent parents. If the parents do not know God, or if their knowledge of Him is shallow, and they are not attending church with their children, what will they pass on to their them? Both parents must be dedicated and deeply involved in honoring God in their own lives, if they want their children to honor God and them! So what would I tell my younger self? “Hey numb skull! Honor your parents and God and you will be rewarded with a longe
