Should Christians Judge Their Parents, the Elderly, the Sick & the Shut In?

The Bible contains many principles that answer this question. Many times, we justify our negative behavior towards our parents and the elders of our family by judging them for who they are. However, the Bible says "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:18.

Further, the Bible says "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you." Deuteronomy 5:16. However, to take vengeance or bear any grudge against your parents, the elders of your family, as well as the sick and the shut in, does not show love and honor. Love is acceptance. No one wants to be judged for who they are. Love is the agent for change. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

Most often, the unfulfilled child, who is living inside of the adult, is screaming for your parents and your elders to give care and gifts to you to make you feel loved and whole. However, the Bible says "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11. Once you reach adulthood, your parents are not obligated to give what they have worked for to members of their family. It is unrealistic to expect your parents, the elderly, the sick and the shut in, who are usually on a fixed income, to give the little that they have to you--just because you want it. At this point in their lives, their family should be honoring them by giving to them--not taking from them. When your parents and your grandparents have been good to you all your life, you can not give them enough. Sometimes, we give to receive. That is not giving--that is manipulation. There is no heavenly reward for such giving. True giving is giving without expecting anything in return. The Bible says "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them." Luke 6:32. Whoever says, "I love God," but hates another believer is a liar. People who don't love other believers, whom they have seen, can't love God, whom they have not seen." 1 John 4:20. "But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." 1 John 2:11.

When you "honor" your parents, the elderly , the sick and shut in, you show great respect and admiration for them. You give to them and you care for them. You give them your support in any way that you can. You don't disappear out of their lives and not lend a helping hand. Remember, their days on earth are numbered, but most of all, your days could be also. Do you want to miss your Blessing that God has for you by violating his laws? So tell me, should Christians judge their parents, the elderly, the sick and shut in? Do you? I invite your comments on this subject. Visit http://pjoutlaw.blogspot.com/ and select comment.

Why Do I Attract the Same Type Personalities Over & Over Again?

One author wrote: "Everything that happens to us, and every choice we make, is a reflection of what we believe about ourselves. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than what we believe we are worth. The things we believe and say about ourselves come back to us in many ways. Self-motivation comes from self-knowledge. We must put faith in our ability to use our mind and spirit to picture our lives the way we want it to be. We must use inner strength and the power of our being to tear down the walls, break through the barriers and move through the obstacles with ease. Once our bodies are freed, we must train our minds to believe it." I invite you to share this thought with a friend and post your comments on http://pjoutlaw.blogspt.com/.

Why Do I Attract The Same Type People Over & Over Again?

Everything that happens to us, and every choice we make, is a reflection of what we believe about ourselves. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than what we believe we are worth. The things we believe and say about ourselves come back to us in many ways. Self-motivation comes from self-knowledge. We must put faith in our ability to use our mind and spirit to picture our lives the way we want it to be. We must use inner strength and the power of our being to tear down the walls, break through the barriers and move through the obstacles with ease. Once our bodies are freed, we must train our minds to believe it.

Who Do You Trust?

"The fear of man brings a snare. But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25

Trusting prople is an issue for most of us. Most times, your trust issues are formed from childhood traumas. Your childhood traumas may be broken promises by your parents; being left home alone as a child with no one to care for you; a frightening experience where you were not protected by you parents; where a parent shows favoritism among the children; child abuse or sexual abuse. This is just to name a few.

These traumas leave you feeling unloved, unworthy, betrayed and abandoned. If you do not heal from these traumas, you subconsciously draw to you people who will conduct themselves in a way that taps into your feelings of distrust, abandonment and betrayal, Even if they do not intend to hurt you or if their conduct does not rise to a level of betrayal or abandonment, it is your perception that controls. Consequently, if you perceive that they have betrayed you, then it feels like betrayal to you. You then feel that you can not trust this person and you shut off part of your heart to them.

For example, you ask a friend to loan you $500.00. However, the friend tells you that they wish they could help you out but they can not lend you the money. You believe they have the means to lend the money to you. However, your friend is financially challenged and does not have the money to lend. They did not tell you this because they are ashamed that they are in this financial condition. You decide you can not trust them to be there for you and you will never ask them to loan you money again. You are disappointed. You feel betrayed because you feel they are not there for you. However, on a subconscious level, you knew by previous conversations that they were having financial challenges. You requested a favor that you subconsciously knew that they could not deliver. This is called a "self-fulfilling prophesy". You knew they could not come through for you. You knew the end of the story before the story began.

Unfortunately, you recreate events with people in your life that reinforce feelings of betrayal and abandonment. You feel you can not count on anyone to be there for you. You feel you can not trust people to love you the way you need to be loved. The deeper your wounds are from the past, the greater the need to protect yourself from the world. Consequently, you live an existence of anger, hurt and loneliness.

Heart to Heart Message for Today
Trust people to be human. Trust people to be who they are--not who you expect or want them to be. Do not set yourself up to distrust all people because no one can be who you expect or want them to be. No one is perfect. No one can be be perfect--just for you--all the time. They can only be who they are. Remember this:

As you judge others, you judge yourself. As you accept others, you accept yourself. As you forgive others, you forgive yourself. As you love others, you love yourself.

Select comment on my blog and tell me what you think.