Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Building relationships: Building bridges and reaching out to parents.

Hi...
Relationships are so...important.
We need to walk an extra mile to build strong, lasting relationships with people in our life and people who we interact with on daily basis.
Today we'll take time to appreciate our parents because parents aren't around forever!
The Bible warns children will be disobedient to parents in the last days.
2 Timothy 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
But still God's word teaches us to 'obey our parents in the Lord.'
Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Matthew 19:19
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Ephesians 6:2
"Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise—
Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Some of you may have bad memories but still it's time to forgive, forget and move on holding no bitterness.If our parents are there, let's take time today to love, appreciate, forgive them if they have hurt us and ask for forgiveness if we have hurt them.
We need to treasure them while they are!
Let's not return their love with cold indifference.
Let's wipe their tears, see their sigh, meet their needs, show them we love and care for them, when they are with us. What use will it be if after they take their last breath, we shed tears, speak volumes appreciating them ...they can't see or hear what we do and say...
Today when they are with us, let's treasure them & give them our best.
It's time to reach out to them & tell them we love them & show them we care.
Maybe some of you have painful memories of childhood. But it's time to reach out in love & let go of all negative feelings. You need to forgive and forget the past and love your parents for that's what God expects you to do.
My dad passed away in 2002. My mom lives in Coonoor (near Ooty) the least I can do now is call her once daily and talk to her. She feels so...happy to talk.
The 1st question I ask her is, "Amma how are you..?"
Do miss seeing her, but blessed to talk to her!!
Thank God for mobiles, telephone and Internet too!!
Parents are God's gift to us...

Julia