Is estrangement from parents a sin in light of the commandment to honor your father and mother?
Deuteronomy 5:16
ESV - 16 'Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
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Asked August 10 2018
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Bill Helbig
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Lena Wms
Dear Brother in Christ, I can truly feel your pain in asking this very important question. I do not have to know the circumstances to know there is great pain involved. However, as a Christian, we know the Great Physician who can heal us body, soul, mind, and spirit. As we lay everything down at His feet and trust in Him, He will heal us. This being said, the only portion of the law or Torah that held a promise was concerning children and parents. We are to honor our parents so our days may be long. If we are estranged from them how are we honoring them? This is not to say that there are not valid reasons for children wanting to be away from them. I realize some people are just toxic. However, this does not negate our responsibility as a child to our parents. When we think that our mother chose to give us life, she could have aborted us. How much gratitude do we have? Even if we just call and say "Thank you for giving me life." What about our fathers? If he was present in the home, he provided a roof over our heads. If he was absent, at least we know who he was. A gratitude phone call to Dad for a roof over our head or help with that math homework, or someway Dad was in our life would definitely be in order. This doesn't mean that we have to go hang out with them if they are in the toxic range of personalities. Yet, we have honored God, and honored our parents by showing GRATITUDE for the things that matter. Our life. Without our parents, how would we have existed? Whatever life we have now, how we see ourself, we owe a debt of gratitude to our parents. No baby is ever born with an instruction manual. No one is perfect. Everyone, including me, makes mistakes. Forgiveness doesn't mean that we have to take a toxic person back into our bosom. But it does mean we free ourself from the prison of bitterness and hatred that binds our own soul. Gratitude and forgiveness are bosom buddies. Be Blessed, Lena
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