“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old." Proverbs 23:22 ESV
In the age of information, advice is readily available about almost anything. The invention of the Internet has made it possible to share as well as retrieve information all over world. The internet is filled with web pages from an excessive number of entities and individuals competing for our attention, in order to motivate us to adapt to their way of thinking. It has become a part of the current culture to browse reviews to determine if the contents of a webpage is worth our time. We willingly allow people who we don’t know to influence our thoughts, sometimes about life changing matters.
Proverbs 23:22, the verse teaches us to be attentive listening to what our fathers are speaking into our lives, the advice rendered from them. The reason is not based on good reviews nor our fathers’ ability to give appropriate advise. The basis is because without our fathers we wouldn’t exist. Since we half of our DNA is a result of their contribution, our fathers have more than earn a right to be heard with our undivided attention.
Moreover, Proverbs 23:22 instructs us to always be loving towards our mothers, especially, in the season they need us the most. As our parents age, the roles reverse in that we begin to take care of them as they took care of us in our formative years. Instead of begrudging our mothers, for what some might think is an inconvenience, we ought to shower them with love in their golden years for the sacrifice made in our formative years.
Whether biological or surrogate, we are indebted to those who deposit into us substance to make our lives work. Despite being less than perfect, some gave their best efforts. Even though, in some cases, we believe some could have done more. Nevertheless, when we consider the quote “There is always someone worst off”, we can find ourselves at the table of gratefulness. In gratefulness, we made a choice to live to be kind to our parents in words and deeds.
“As we practice honoring our parents, as an expression of God’s love, we consciously listen to our fathers and remain lovingly towards our mothers in all stages of their lives”_ASA
Chronicles of ASA 