Honor your Father and Mother

An excerpt from Honor Your Father and Your Mother
By Rachel Powdrill, WGM Partner
July-September 2012


Remember learning the Ten Commandments when you were a child? For those of us who grew up in the church, we were taught from a very young age that these were God’s standard for all Christians. However, the commandment “Honor your father and your mother” is often relegated to children’s lessons or pointed out to teenagers.

This commandment is given to us for the lifetime of our parents, not just when we live under their roof as children or teenagers.

Generations are living longer due to medical advancements. Therefore, there is a greater need for more care for the elderly in their latter years. Often, missionaries are faced with the dilemma of needing to return home to care for aging parents. Sam and I have been in this position for almost five years.


We could have said to our needful parents, “We are doing good by spending our lives on the mission field.” Although we were dedicated to the “temple” (for us, the mission field), Jesus desired us to live in obedience by caring for our parents.

We definitely grieved over the loss of serving overseas in ministry. When missions has been your entire life and you leave it all behind, a huge amount of loss floods your being. We have grieved as our parents have aged and lost their memories and ability to communicate. But Jesus still whispers, “Honor your father and your mother.”

ACT: Do you know someone who is a caregiver for an elderly spouse or parent? Give them a call or send an encouraging note today, thanking them for their loving service.