Sunday, January 20, 2002

What goes around comes around

By DR. KNOX HERNDON
Pastor

I have heard it said, "Be good to your kids; they will be picking your nursing home!" Now there's a lot of truth in that.

We, as parents, love to quote to our children, especially when they are young, the "child" commandment "Honor your father and your mother that your days shall be long upon the earth." (Exodus 20:12) I certainly believe that and I feel you do too.

There is another scripture we need to read that says, "And you fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4)

Have you ever known a parent who was so cruel and unkind to their children that they caused them to rebel? Their automatic answer to their children was a forever "NO," no matter what the question! Out of frustration of always hearing "NO," the lying , cheating , and rebellious behavior begins.

I realize, of course, that a relationship is certainly a "handshake" which involves two or more people trying to cooperate. I also realize that sometimes bad kids cause bad parents. As my parents got into their twilight years and started needing serious physical help, they received it, mainly because of the love relationships that we had all received from them throughout our earlier lives.

Another scripture comes to mind. "Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

God's Word said "Jesus went about doing good." As Christians we are to go through life as salt and light and do as Jesus did, and "do good."

There is a hope involved here that as we do as we are supposed to do, that one day all of it will "come back around to us." That just maybe, as we are lying in our nursing home bed (that our children have picked for us), that the kindness we have shone, will come back around.

Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is below Senoia on Ga. Highway 85 a mile south of Ga. Highway 16 on the right just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com.



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