by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Listening to Our Parents

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.“
Proverbs 4:10-11 New Revised Standard Version

I’ve come to accept the fact that I need routines. I’ve been traveling lately, and nothing disrupts routines more than traveling. I’m learning that the best way for me to approach this disruption is to establish short-term routines.

One of those routines is to figure out how I’m going to do my devotions. So, I make sure to start my devotions the same way each day as I do when I’m home. I say the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, then the Lord’s Prayer before I enter into Scripture.

As I say the Ten Commandments, I’ve been meditating on the Fourth Commandment of honoring my parents. Recently, I made a trip to Willamette National Cemetery where my parents’ ashes have been laid to rest, waiting for the day of resurrection. No matter where I am, I picture that resting place as I speak the Fourth Commandment. And sometimes, my thoughts wander on what my parents taught me, especially my father.

As I think about my father’s influence on my life, I remember how he led me on the road of wisdom and the path of uprightness. He was a passionate man, especially about his faith in Jesus Christ. He encouraged me to pray for wisdom that I might walk on God’s path of uprightness.

What God has been teaching me through this daily routine is that it’s never too late to honor your parents, even if they have joined the Church Triumphant. It’s never too late to praise God for the gift of parents.

As I think about my parents, my prayer is that God would make me a godly parent, grandparent, and maybe even great grandparent that my children might see in me God’s road of wisdom and uprightness in Jesus and the beauty of walking on his path in life.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado