Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” NKJV

Ephesians 6:2 – “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:” NKJV

Ephesians 6:2 – “HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.” NASB

I think that sometimes this is a forgotten or disregarded passage from scripture. My mother honored her parents in every way. She respected them with words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Her parents did the same for their parents and both lived long lives. My mother lived past her 95^th birthday.  I do not believe that was simply the result of genetics.  I believe it is directly connected to this commandment.  Parents are to be honored even the ones that must be forgiven!  However, the ones who have learned honor from their parents & the Lord are easy to honor, as is my mother!

I pay tribute to my mother in this devotional and to the Lord who preserved her for those years. She was a prayer warrior and the one who prayed me through what the doctors pronounced as sure death as a child. She prayed me through my teen years when rebellion set in and only the hand of God kept me out of trouble and alive. She prayed me through Vietnam, where only her prayers and God’s grace kept me from being killed which was evidenced on more occasions than I want to recall.

I know that through years of ministry when at times, I wanted to walk away and through domestic and church issues that could have destroyed my faith – She Prayed!  She never stopped loving me or the Lord and never stopped praying or encouraging! She was, is, and always will be Mother! That is an honored position! It is one thing to bear a child it is quite another to be a True Mother to the child and she was that in every possible way. So today to Elva M. Beaird, today I tribute!  Thank you, Mother, for your love, guidance, prayers, and commitment to me! Thank you, Lord, for giving me a mother of that quality and character!

Truly, I am blessed! My heritage is great and is to be passed down to my children and grandchildren for them to pass on to the following generations should the Lord tarry His coming!  Honor in all things is not an option it is essential but honoring your parents is, to me, so easy knowing their great love, commitment, and sacrifices! Thank you, mother, for your love and guidance!  You are in heaven now, but your influence lingers in my life and I am eternally grateful.

God bless each of you today and although it may not be the birthday of your parents Honor Them!  They may be in heaven, Honor Them!  It is not a special holiday that is designed to focus on them but Honor Them every day!  In doing so you Honor the Lord!

Have a Great Day!