"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

The commandment to “Honor your father and mother,” is sometimes challenged by those who wonder how they can honor parents who have been, or who are, less than honorable. “How can I honor my parents who failed to provide and care for me?” “How can I honor parents who abused me?” “How am I supposed to honor parents were (or are) alcoholics and/or drug abusers?” These are legitimate questions for which there are answers.

First, honor your parents by saluting their rank. In the military, service men and women are to salute those whose rank is superior to their own. Do you suppose that ever superior officer is worth of such respect? Of course not. But as the saying goes, “Salute the rank even if you can’t salute the person!”

While the vast majority of parents are at least in some way worthy of respect, “Honor the parent even if you can’t respect the person.”

Did you notice the use of the words honor and respect. We are commanded by God to honor our parents even if we cannot respect the decisions they make or the actions they take.

Our obligation to obey God’s commands is not dependent upon others’ obedience to God. Just as husbands and wives are to obey God by being biblical husbands and wives, even when their mates are not, children are to obey God by honoring their parents, even when their parents are not being good parents.

More on honoring parents next time.