Honoring Our Parents When They're Gone

Some of us whose parents have died may look back and wish we had done more to obey the fifth commandment, "Honor Your Father and Your Mother" (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4-6, Ephesians 6:1-4), when they were alive.

But there is a way we may still be able to honor them, even after they are gone.

Almost all parents want long-term good for their children, and they want peace in their families.

We can honor our parents by showing kindness to their children. We honor them by getting along peacefully with our brothers and sisters, by forgiving them when they offend us, and by being actively concerned for their welfare. We can love our brothers and sisters as our parents would or should do if they were alive, and thus, in effect, carry on the work of our parents in their place. That is one way we can honor them.

And actually, loving our brothers and sisters is often a good way to honor our father and mother even while our parents are alive.