“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ — which is the first commandment with a promise — ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'” — Ephesians 6:1-3
>> Sign up here for Sports Spectrum devotionals sent right to your email inbox <<
Professional athletes live inside training facilities, gyms, weight rooms and locker rooms for most of their waking hours. The pressure to perform at peak level is constant from fans, coaches and the media. Therefore, it’s easy to put family concerns on the back burner and focus only on the task at hand.
Nevertheless, aging parents still need to hear from their adult children regularly and even more so when they are less mobile and prone to isolation. In the midst of our busyness, we need to pause and remember that we learned to walk before we ran, and our parents taught us how to walk. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the assistance of parents and mentors through the years.
If we forget our parents, we disrespect them and no longer appreciate them as we should. Communication is one way to honor our parents. Video chats, texts, calls, sending cards and personal visits are excellent ways to give a boost to our parents who brought us where we are today.
When we are young, we honor our parents with obedience. As adults, we respect our parents by giving them time and acts of service. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ — which is the first commandment with a promise — ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth'” (Ephesians 6:1-3). If we think about it, we please God when we honor our parents, we make our aging parents’ lives easier, and we benefit our own well-being.
When we make time to spend with parents and grandparents, we gain wisdom to pass on to future generations. Parents’ wisdom and faith should be cherished and relayed to our children and grandchildren like a necklace is passed down to future generations. “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck” (Proverbs 1:8-9).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
If you would like to submit a devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com.
