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Honor
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Honor
Lauren is 18 years old. She is in the United States Navy. I met her at a church service and liked her right away. She had walked to church and was about to walk back to the base. The return home was a long up hill walk. I offered her a ride.
I asked her what made her join the military. She gave a very frank answer. She said she wanted to get away from home. Home has two Christian, loving, but very strict parents.
At 17, Lauren had run away once. She came back home but couldn't stand the rules. From talking to Lauren, it sounded like the rules her parents were setting were reasonable.
Her parents must have been terrified for Lauren. They knew she was in danger. The commandment to honor our parents actually comes with a reason for adhering to it. We honor our parents so we can have a long life. Ignoring sound council from parents is very dangerous.
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12 NIV
Lauren was very unhappy at home and wanted to get away again. She told her parents that if they didn't sign permission for her to join the military before she turned 18, she was just going to run away again.
Her parents agonized but finally signed permission. Lauren had already graduated from high school and did well at boot camp. She has been assigned to a special program where she will learn Arabic and help with intelligence. She is doing well in the school.
I asked her if she was happy with the way her decision to join the military had worked out. She laughed. She said the military was a stricter parent than her parents ever thought about being. She added that the Navy could really enforce the rules.
She said she is now doing everything her parents ever wanted her to do. She is following the rules, studying, coming home on time, and going to church. She believes her retired Navy father knew this was going to be the outcome.
There is another scripture that instructs fathers not to exasperate their children. I wondered if Lauren's parent's rules might have been a little too strict. If that is true, Lauren gave absolutely no indication of it. She painted herself as an immature rebellious teenager. She wouldn't let herself off the hook by blaming her parents.
"Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Exodus 20:12 NIV
The navy certainly has helped Lauren but I am hesitant to give them all of the credit. While Lauren rebelled for a while, she was given a good foundation. She was loved and taken to church. She has parents back home praying for her.
In her rebellion, she actually did honor her father. She followed in his footsteps. What a compliment it is for a child to want to be like their parents. She showed honor in taking responsibility for herself and her actions. She is attending church and is active in a weekend singles program at the church. I also believe she will honorably serve her country.
People like Lauren are protecting the United States of America during a difficult time. Each of them has their own story. Regardless of their reasons for joining the military, thank God they did. What an honor it was to meet Lauren.
Join me in praying for our military.
Dear Father,
Our country is having a difficult time. We are fighting a war that in many ways we don't understand. We don't understand why our enemy is waging war on innocent people. Help our military to be as shrewd as snakes while remaining innocent as doves. Give them the strength to win this war while holding true to the values this country was based on.
Thank you for the honorable men and woman who are voluntarily protecting us while we continue on with our lives. Give them strength. Give their families peace.
Help each of us to be willing to do our part. Show us where we can help. Give all of us the courage we need to take whatever actions are necessary. Help us to honor our military with our thoughts, words, and actions.
And finally Father, thank you for Lauren. Guide her and love her. Thank you for her parents and the model of her military father. Keep her on the track that she is on and keep her close to you. Give her church the wisdom to guide her. Give her parents the peace that they followed God and God will take care of her. Protect her in her military career. Thank you for her honor.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen
"Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." Matthew 10:16 NIV
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