Last spring, two 48-year-old twin brothers chose not to help their mother after she fell and hurt herself. The duo simply left the injured woman in the entryway of the house they shared with her. Police were contacted after the mother hadn’t been seen by friends for several weeks. They found her body in the spot where she had fallen—3 months after her death. The defense for the two sons, who were charged with murder, claimed the men had mental disabilities that prevented them from helping their mom. What a horrifying, sad story!
The apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy (a young pastor he was mentoring), gives us the right way to answer the age-old question of how to care for our aging parents and loved ones:
• Respect. Tender respect should be lavished on those who are nearing the end of life’s race (1 Timothy 5:1-2). Dignity extended to a father who is struggling with the effects of age and loving kindness shown to a mother who can’t reciprocate reveals that one’s heart is reflecting the very heart of God.
• Care. Helping to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, and social needs of an older loved one is a part of a child’s “[repaying] their parent by taking care of them” (1 Timothy 5:4, also 1 Timothy 5:3,5-7). It’s something that God, who loves and cares for us so well, expects of His children.
The challenges and burdens of life can sometimes cause us to turn a blind eye to the needs of our senior-citizen parents and other aging relatives. Paul states, however, that busyness is no excuse for not being about the business of showing them respect and care. When our reserves are low, we can seek help from others and—best of all—pray to God for strength and wisdom in being truly compassionate care-givers.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 7:15–9:7
More:
In Leviticus 19:32, God commands us to fear Him. What else does He tell us to do in this verse?
Next:
How will you begin extending greater respect and care to the aged loved ones in your family? Why does God expect you to provide for them?
kram4mark on February 7, 2012 at 9:35 am
There are some parents and i’m pointing the finger at me who dont deserve the caring from their kids when they get old. I know my son will even though I dont deserve it.
tom felten on February 7, 2012 at 9:46 am
kramrmark, I’m sure many of the ODJ community feel the same way. The good news? God has given us this day to begin older loved ones better. By His grace we can begin making changes today that will honor our aging relatives and bring glory to Jesus!
marilynmk on February 7, 2012 at 3:54 pm
It really breaks my heart whenever I hear this kind of story when a child didn’t even think how their parents sacrificed their lives taking care of them when they were babies. Although let’s say that they don’t have time to take care of their parents or their parents didn’t really meet their needs when they were young. Should they just let others( like put them in nursing home) take care of them instead of leaving them in lurch. Even our God commanded us to love our enemies. How much more should we repay the part how they brought us in this world.God also promise that if we help and honor our parents, He will bless us too.
tom felten on February 7, 2012 at 5:06 pm
marilynmk, you’re right, God wants us o honor our parents. Paul wrote, ““Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth’ ” (Ephesians 6:2-3).