Honoring Our Parents and Elders
Have you noticed how easy it is to overlook older family members today?
A joyful Thanksgiving surrounded by the warmth of family.
I once had an aunt who quietly stopped attending our family Christmas gatherings. No one had told her not to come, and she loved being part of the family. However, over time, she began to feel invisible. The younger generations rushed past her, never stopping to ask how she was doing, never taking the time for a smile or a bit of conversation.
She was there, but she wasn’t seen. And the hurt of being overlooked was enough to keep her away.
Her story has stayed with me. It’s a tender reminder of how quickly a heart can close when it feels forgotten — and how easily we, without meaning to, can wound someone simply through neglect.
I’ve also noticed something else in recent years: conversations where younger adults debate whether they will “allow” grandparents the privilege of being involved in their children’s lives. That way of thinking isn’t only heartbreaking — it stands in direct contrast to the heart of God.
Autumn inspires gratitude and deepens our connections with family.
Honor Is Not Optional — It Is Holy
The Lord gave us a command that hasn’t expired with time:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” — Exodus 20:12
This command is not limited to childhood. It stretches across every season of life — from the little hand reaching up to a parent, to the adult child caring gently for aging parents and grandparents.
To honor is to value.
To honor is to treat someone as precious.
To honor is to recognize the dignity God has placed in them.
When we dismiss or distance ourselves from our parents or grandparents without cause — when we “cancel” them from family life — we are not only breaking connection; we are ignoring God’s instruction.
Love, respect, and connection that transcend generations.
Jesus Gave Us the Perfect Example
Even in His final moments on the cross, while bearing the weight of the world’s sin, Jesus remembered His mother. With compassion, He turned to John and said:
“Behold, your mother!” — John 19:27
In His suffering, He honored her.
In His pain, He protected her.
In His final breaths, He ensured she would be cared for.
If Christ Himself paused in that moment to honor His mother, surely we can pause in the busyness of life to honor the elders God has placed in our lives.
Honor Begins With Attention
This Thanksgiving, take a moment around the table to invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, or older family friends to share a story from their lives. Ask questions. Listen carefully. Encourage your children to look into an elder’s eyes, speak kindly, and linger a moment longer.
Teach them that honoring elders is not a burden — it is a blessing.
And perhaps the most powerful gift we can give is simply this:
Time and attention
In a culture quick to move on, may we be families who slow down.
Who linger.
Who listen.
Who honor the ones who came before us.
In honoring our parents and elders, we honor the Lord Himself.
