Listening and Learning

“A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.”—Proverbs 15:20

From the beginning, God made clear the importance of our attitude toward our parents. A foundational principle was found in the ten commandments that direct us, “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). Honoring them was so important that God promised blessings for those who keep this command (Ephesians 6:1–3).

Honoring parents means having an attitude of humility toward them, showing appreciation, being eager to receive their insights, listening to them, learning from them, and being ready to apply those lessons in our own lives. We can learn much from the experiences of older generations.

Throughout the Bible, we see examples of those who honored their parents, listened to them, and applied the lessons they learned. We see how God blesses and rewards these people.

We are encouraged to respect and honor parents even when they are critical. We read, “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke” (Proverbs 13:1).

Parents feel special when their children show appreciation. We read, “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). We are encouraged to hear what they recommend (Proverbs 1:8).

Seek to remember these principles. Learn from the insights given by your mother and father, whether they are still alive or not. Pay attention to the lessons they shared. Stay humble and teachable.

Reflection Question: If your parents are still alive, how can you practically show them honor?