So much more than obedience

First off, I appreciated the way DJ described the grouping of the commandments as vertical (love God) and horizontal (love neighbor). And commandment five is the intersection of the two groups, woah!

I never really thought this was a commandment that I particularly struggled with. I've always been a rule follower, so obeying my parents was rarely difficult for me. But I think this was more from a place of not wanting to get in trouble than a place of wanting to honor them.

To honor means to make weighty. So honoring my parents means feeling the weight of their position. This year I feel like I'm starting to appreciate my parents in a new way since I am no longer living with them. I'm seeing just how much of a blessing they've been to my life and seriously, I wish I had realized that a long time ago. 

Honoring my parents also means feeling the weight of their needs. I thought it was so interesting how DJ mentioned that this includes covering up their faults. This isn't to say that they are perfect, but acknowledging they are human and instead of shaming them for their faults, still choosing to give them grace and honor them. And I think that's such a cool way to honor parents. 

Also hearing DJ talk about how parents can honor their children helped me to see how my parents have honored me and made me think about how to honor my future children. He mentioned letting children out of the child box, which is what my parents have done for me. I'm thankful for the way my relationship with my parents has become more of a friendship. Also very thankful to have parents that pushed me towards an independent dependence on Jesus as Lord, and support me in my decision to serve with Sonshine each summer.

Praying that I would be more aware of the blessing that my parents are in my life and that I would continue to find ways to honor them.