The Blessing of Honor

"'Honor your father and mother.' This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'you will live a long life, full of blessing.'" (Ephesians 6:2-3)
The word "honor" in this passage is sometimes translated "value" in other New Testament passages.  We are to value our parents--to honor them.  The command is not simply for little children, it is for all of us--of all ages, whether our parents are living or dead.  We are to value them.  The command does not exclude parents who may have done a poor job parenting.  It does not exclude parents who may have been absent.  All parents are to be honored.

If your parents are or were great parents, then you may have no issue with the command.  If your parents were not so great, then it's a bit more difficult.  Like all of our relationships, we are to learn to see people through the eyes of God--as He sees them--broken and flawed individuals created in the image of God.  Ask God to open your eyes to see what He sees--to know what He knows--and to value what He values.  Invite the Holy Spirit to do a transformational work in your heart.  Like everything else in the Christian life, we express value by faith and grace--faith that there is more there than our eyes can see, and grace--the unmerited favor that is given through an ocean of love.

Paul emphasizes that there is a reward for honoring parents.  We are promised a long life, full of blessing.  Do you need a blessing today?  God says, "Honor your father and mother."