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November 12, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Respect Your Mother!, by Phil Ware
Note:
This is one of several letters Phil is sending to his grown children,
Zachary and Megan, to help them know about their grandfather, called
Daddy Al. You can find a link at the bottom of the page to take you to
a list of all the other of these letters.
Dear Megan and Zachary,
When all this began two months ago, I wanted to share with you seven
principles your grandfather, Daddy Al, taught me. I know that you never
knew him, but I hope knowing these principles helps you know a little
more about him.
The final principle is very simple and clear: treat your mother -- and
all women, for that matter -- with respect.
If your uncles, Byron and Gordon, and I wanted to get in really deep
trouble with Daddy Al, all we had to do was hint at talking back or
showing disrespect to our mom. Whoa baby, it didn't take many times to
learn this was a real no-no! Of course, he had always taught us this
principle, but sometimes boys need a reminder or two.
Part of the reason for Daddy Al's strong feelings about this is that he
had grown up in an era when women weren't always treated with respect
-- this was especially true if they were not in positions of power or
were single. This concept, of course, was part of the reason for
principle six that we covered last week.
A second reason that Daddy emphasized this important principle is
because it is strongly taught throughout Scripture. God demands, Jesus
re-emphasizes, and the apostle Paul stresses, that children must obey
their parents and honor them (Exodus 20:16; Matthew 15:1-9; Ephesians
6:1). This is important to their spiritual character and to their own
well being.
Another part of this demand to respect your mother has to do with a
sense of family. If you don't respect your mother, you are
disrespecting yourself and your family.
One of the things I have always appreciated in both of you is your
respect for your mom. You were taught this from the time you were
young, in large measure because your Daddy Al insisted that I learn it.
However, if you all don't proactively demand this with your children,
it could be lost to future generations.
I know you guys will carry this principle with you.
Zach, it is crucial that when the Lord gives you children that you
teach this principle to them so they will always respect Mandy. Megan,
it is crucial that when God brings that special man into your life, you
need to be sure that he will respect you and expect your children to
respect you. This is one of those principles that is much harder for a
mom to demand of her children than it is for the dad to demand and
demonstrate to his children.
I know you guys will carry this principle with you the rest of your
lives, but I wanted to remind you just how important this principle was
for your Daddy Al, how important it is to me, and how seriously God
takes it. I pray that you will teach it to your children and to your
grandchildren. If you do, I know our legacy of faith that already spans
multiple generations will live on for years to come.
Love you both for who you are and what God is in you.
Dad
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If you were to pass on some values from your mom or dad to your
children or grandchildren, what would they be?
Let's help each other build a legacy list for the future! Share your
ideas on my blog.
---------
(c) 2007 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Other Articles in this Series
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200709/20070924_remembering.html#series
* World's Worst Mother Award
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200405/20040508_worstmother.html
* For the Children's Sake
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200206/20020607_children.html
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200711/20071112_respectmother.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE, by Rick Warren
Takes the message of The Purpose-Driven Church and shows us how to
apply it to our individual lives.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?222
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