Aging Parents

The Bible has much to say about caring for elderly parents and other family members who are not able to care for themselves. The early Christian church acted as the social services agency for other believers. They cared for the poor, the sick, the widows and the orphans who had no one else to care for them. Christians who had family members in need were expected to meet those needs. Unfortunately, caring for our aging parents is an obligation that many of us are not prepared to tackle.

The elderly can be seen as burdens rather than blessings. Sometimes we are quick to forget the sacrifices our parents made for us when they are in need of care themselves. Instead of taking them into our homes—whenever that is safe and feasible—we put them in retirement communities or nursing homes, sometimes against their will. We may not value the wisdom they have acquired through living long lives, and we can discredit their advice as “outdated.”

When we honor and care for our parents, we are serving God as well. We should never allow the cares of the world to overshadow the things that are most important—serving God through serving people, especially the people in our own families. The Bible tells us to “Honor your father and mother” and God wants to help us through that when times are difficult. Lean into God and pray with a positive spirit when life with your parents is hard.