Daily
Devotional

Growing up, there were four boys in my immediate family. I do not know where the tradition came from, but we four were always proud to go out to the garden on Mother’s Day and pick a rosebud to wear on our shirt lapel—especially a red one, which indicated that Mother was still living. The fact that Mother’s name was Rosie made wearing a rose in her honor even more special. I was very proud of her and considered paying respect to her in that way to be a privilege.  

Our focus verse says that those who honor their fathers and mothers can live long upon the land, and that promise still applies to those who follow the Lord’s Word in honoring and respecting their elders. The respect we have must primarily be in our hearts, but it is also evident by our actions. For example, I do not remember ever calling my mother by her first name. It always seemed appropriate to call her “Mother.” Nor did I call my elders by their first names—in fact, to this day I still call the older saints in the church by their first names only with the preface of “Brother” or “Sister.” These actions may seem insignificant to an onlooker, but they are only glimpses of the high regard I have for individuals who have led the way for me in the Gospel.

My life is blessed, in part because a wonderful mother taught me many valuable lessons, not the least of which was to have proper respect for my elders. Reading through some old letters she sent me, it was refreshing to find her repeatedly referring to the ministers and other Christians as “Brother” and “Sister.” It dawned on me that Mother set a high standard for her children to follow. It was through her own example that she taught me to respect those whom God has set over us. With God’s help, we can all follow the godly examples He has given, and in so doing be examples for the generations that come after us.