The Importance of Living With and In Honor

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), ³ “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”  Eph. 6:1-3

There is scene in the movie the Lion King where Mufasa has shown Simba all that is to be his someday and he even reminded his young cub of the importance of following his instructions just so that he may live a long and prosperous life.  Albeit whether you and your dad (your mom, whomever) have a great relationship or not, you are responsible for a portion of that.   My dad did what was honorable by sacrificing his life for his family and country (U.S. Army), and what did he get in return?   He returned but I am certain that Vietnam (as it did for many) robbed him a part of who he really was, therefore mentally I believe he returned home and struggled.  But not without a fight, he graduated from college, was a professor at Forest Park Community College and St. Louis University.  But there were certain demons that seemed to have a terrible hold on him.  So he decided to move away to Atlanta.  While there I believe my dad met GOD and as GOD was speaking to him, he too charged me to live in such a way here that despite our relational difficulties over the years that I was responsible for HONORING him, and HONORING HIM with my life.

If you know me, you know I'm not perfect....but I try (not to be) live in such a way that my fathers (bio and heavenly) would be honored to call me there son.  And as of this past Sunday as we had recently talked 2-3x a week in the last 6mos he made it a point to share how proud he was of me and my siblings.  He definitely landed our relational plane with grace& love, and after many years of struggling we finally were connecting like father and son should.

There is a natural order to things and I believe that has been fulfilled. In the movie Simba has decided to dishonor his father by journeying to a forbidden place...and the price is Mufasa sacrificed his life so that Simba could live.   My dad sacrificed his life (and sometimes I believed his soul and sanity) for his family & country so that I may live.    For those of  you that don't or don't want to have a relationship with a parent, child or family member let me remind you of this: Romans 12:17-18 says ¹⁷  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.   Simba regretted not having listened to his dad in that moment. I don't know what regret you maybe living with, but you have a heavenly Father that wants to take that, and use it for fuel to live a life that honors Him and those before you.

My dad has now taken on the rest of the saints, and I am charged to continue to live with honor, and honorably in the sight of all and peaceably as much as possible.   You are too, so please do what's right....make that phone call, bear your heart if you have to, but at the end of the day DO WHAT's RIGHT.  HE REALLY DOES MEAN for you to LOVE Him, and love all people.....for no man knows the day nor the hour when the Son of Man returns.  LGLP