Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth
Ephesians 6:1-3
You can choose your future spouse, but you can't choose who your parents are. There was a video of a teenager feeling talentless because his parents didn't involve him in any extracurricular activities. I felt sad for him because I experienced a similar feeling when I was young. I also felt sad for his parents because maybe they are unaware and not capable of providing such opportunities.
When I was a full-time teacher, we had parent-teacher conferences every quarter to discuss the students' progress. Sometimes, these conversations went deeper and I felt like I was receiving free counseling from various parenting experts. Looking back now, I am incredibly appreciative of those days. It was nerve-wracking at the time because I was a young and inexperienced educator, learning from superior individuals in various areas of life including successful business owners, physicians, lawyers, teachers, and more. I made many mistakes as a nineteen-year-old, but I learnt a great deal from them, especially about the challenges of parenthood.
One thing I've learned from many parents is that parenting is not easy. Some spoke about the hard work involved in providing their children with a good education, emphasizing the importance of primary schooling. One of my favorite parents was incredibly humble despite having impressive credentials and successful children. They never boasted about their achievements, and I only discovered their accomplishments when they were invited to speak at our school. The mother had resigned from her high-paying job to become a full-time mom, and I realized how challenging that must have been. However, I noticed the positive impact it had on her children and aspired to be like her. All the parents were striving to be the best they could be for their children, and through these conversations, I began to understand my own parents better.
We all have different parents, and it's important to recognize that they are doing their best for us based on their own knowledge and capabilities. Forgiveness and understanding are important, as their focus may be on providing our basic necessities rather than fulfilling our wants and desires.
I used to criticize my parents when I was a teenager, but as an adult, I appreciate their resilience and the challenges they faced. I now realize how bad choices, motives, and vices impacted our family’s wealth and lifestyle. Although we can't change the past, I've witnessed how God is able to gradually change our hearts and the future. It's natural to feel resentment towards our parents for not giving us the life we desire, but it's important to stop blaming them.
Life is full of opportunities and adventures, and it's crucial to honor our parents as the first commandment with a promise. This promise ensures that our lives will go well and we may enjoy a long life on earth. Life is beautiful despite its challenges, and it's essential to preserve the lessons we've learned from our parents and our own experiences. Life may be hard, but God's grace is always enough