"Honor your father and your mother" (Exodus 20:12).

Today I will be going out to my home state of Missouri to finalize some business issues regarding my mother's estate.  (My Mom passed away last November.)  Most importantly on Saturday we will have a brief service at a cemetery in southern Missouri where we will bury her cremated remains alongside my Dad who died in 1998. Then the family and friends in attendance will meet at Mom's childhood town of Harwood, MO where we'll have a meal and reminisce at the Community Center.

A fundamental law God has established is how we deal with our parents.  In the Ten Commandments the first commandment dealing with human relationships simply states, "Honor your father and your mother."  The Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul both repeat this commandment in the New Testament.

For growing children honor is expressed primarily in obedience. For grown children it's mostly expressed in esteem and respect. I believe that even when our parents pass on we should still seek to appropriately honor them.

What about you today?  Are your parents living?  Do they need a call, a visit, some expression of love and appreciation?  Have you presented them with a written tribute concerning your love and esteem? I know I bring this subject up periodically and regular readers may note this.  Take the time and make the contact.  Don't wait for "Mother's Day" or "Father's Day". In God's Word no specific day or time is assigned for the honoring of our parents.  It is God's will that we live our lives in a manner that brings ongoing honor to our father and mother.

If your parents are deceased honor their memory and thank God for them.  And I earnestly hope your children honor you!  That is a pricelss blessing.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer: Jesus, one by one those who've loved and cared for us are called to their eternal home.  We go on living without their presence, but the contribution they made in our lives will never go away.  Their sacrificial, enduring love has served as personal examples to us in our own experience as a parent.  Help us not to take the presence of our loved ones for granted or to allow difficulties in our relationships to override the importance of honoring our mother and father.  We reap what we sow in the attitude we express about our parents as it will most likely be our own children's attitude toward us as we grow older.   

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Note from Brooksyne:  After my mother passed away four years ago I brought home some of her luggage.  Last night Stephen packed a couple of those bags for his flight later today.  It was only as I was zipping the bag that I noticed the key ring attached to the zipper.   Given to her by her grandchildren it said, "Grandma, you're out of this world!"   As I pointed it out to Stephen we both had a chuckle and commented on how a rather cute expression can take on tremendous meaning based on the current circumstances.

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A personal family note: I realize the following information will only to apply to a very few on this list.  But due to my Mom's varied list of friends, several who are on this mailing list, I will make this brief announcement as I am unable to determine a better way to do so! This Saturday, April 1 at 12:00 noon we will have a special graveside Memorial Service for my Mom (Georgia Mae Weber).  It will be at the Green Lawn Cemetery near Schell City, Missouri. All her Midwest family and friends are invited to attend. A meal will follow in the Harwood Community Building in Harwood. Also on Thursday, March 30 I would be pleased to gather with any of her Kansas City area friends who might like to meet for a cup of coffee.  For more information, directions to the cemetery, and to contact me please see this special page.  Also would anyone reading this who knows Georgia Mae please pass this information along to others who knew her and who may be interested in attending.  Thanks, SCW

Last night as I prepared for the trip I called several relatives and friends we plan to visit with. I also called my first pastor's wife, now 87 and faithfully serving the Lord. Her husband passed away over six years ago and she was so very pleased that I called. That reminds me of a principle in honoring our "spiritual" parents as well.