Lizzie Borden and the Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, are infamous for murdering their parents. All appearances are that the Borden and Menendez parents did their children no harm. This causes us to wonder why these children would even contemplate such acts of violence. Christina Crawford, adopted daughter of actress, Joan Crawford, hated her abusive mother enough to write a book about her, but at least she didn’t end her life—though she may have given it thought.
In Mark 7 the Scribes and Pharisees made the mistake of advertising their hypocrisy in public. They accused Jesus of contravening the traditions of the Jewish Elders over the washing of hands. Jesus countered by accusing them of breaking one of the 10 Commandments—Not honouring their parents. This was originally a stone able offence, and they knew it.
You would not think that experts in the Law of Moses would go out of their way to neglect their aged parents, but they did. The property that was supposed to be used for their parent’s care was ‘gifted’ to the temple; thus, they felt no further responsibility towards them.
In our welfare driven society it is hard for us to understand the dire consequences that would have befallen these destitute parents. In spiritual terms (because of the real physical outcomes) you would be hard-pressed to see much difference between the Scribes and Pharisees and Lizzie Borden and the Menendez brothers.
All things being equal, most children develop an overwhelming appreciation for the sacrifices made by their parents on their behalf.
All criticisms of style and preference are eventually buried beneath a growing awareness that mum and dad had invested everything they had into their children.
I was blessed with good parents who wanted the best for their kids. Large families mean that all things are stretched thin, so you must replace any sense of having done without with a sense of undying appreciation—I have!
John Staiger
0 Comments