HONORING PARENTS

Florida Thompson

Today is beautiful. The sun is shining, the temperature is warm and school is out. A perfect day for a.....funeral. Yes, a funeral for the mother of a dear friend of mine. Her name is Florida Thompson. She was 91 years old. A tall beautiful lady. An only child, who had and only child (my friend Shirley) with only one grandchild and great grandchild.

Florida had been very sick over the past several months. In fact Shirley, her daughter and my friend, spent the last 6 weeks by her bedside, sleeping nights in a lounge chair in order to be there to care for her. Though Shirley is a retired nurse, we all know those times when we are at our own loved one's side are never easy...even if we are skilled. The emotional strain of watching someone you love, sick, is just plain hard.

Shirley never complained about being tired. She never complained about not enough sleep or the things Florida might be in constant need of. Shirley saw this time through the eyes of our Lord. Though she had not planned to retire as early as she did, she now realizes that God foreordained this opportunity so that she, an only child, could spend these past 6 weeks, unconditionally loving and caring for her dying mother. Why do we marvel so at God's work in our life? What a sweet time he provided for Shirley as she obediently honored her mother in Florida's last days.

Since I just moved my own mother her, it makes me even more aware what a privilege I am given to honor my own mother. The time I will be allowed to spend with her (since she has never lived near me in my 39 years of marriage). God calls each of us to honor our parents. Yet in today's world, we are so busy, so need "me time", think only about what "we" want, that we have forgotten not the "call" to honor our parents, but the "privilege" to honor them with what time any of us have left here on earth.

Father's Day is coming up this weekend. Jimmy nor I have our dads still with us. But what a day to celebrate the FANTASTIC earthly fathers we were privileged to have. I didn't have the opportunity to care for my dad when he was sick before he died, as Shirley did for her mother, but I will celebrate his life as I celebrate Florida Thompson's life today.

So today, I am thankful for parents. Thankful for the joy of loving, caring for and the privilege God has given me to honor my parents. What a BEAUTIFUL day to celebrate! Florida...say hi to daddy, will you?