A WORD FOR TODAY, March 2, 2026
Peggy Hoppes
We pray you have been blessed by this daily devotion. If you received it from a friend, you can see other devotions and studies by visiting our website at www.awordfortoday.org.
Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, March 2, 2026
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.” Exodus 20:12, WEB
I read an article the other day that made me think. It was a testimonial, or should I say confession, from a man who thought he was doing everything right until he realized he was not doing anything at all. It began with his name and then, “I am 46 years old, and though I have no mugshot and no rap sheet, I am a thief. I have spent years committing a quiet, bloodless robbery against the only two people who would trade their last breath to keep me breathing.”
He was a successful businessman who lived a few states away from his parents. He had the normal worries of middle-aged Americans: a mortgage and bills. He had teenagers about to head off to college who only paid attention when they wanted money for something. He wore his success literally and figuratively, both in designer clothes and a busy schedule. He had convinced himself he was a good son because he called his parents regularly (while checking his email on his computer), sent them money to help pay bills, gave elaborate gifts (sent from the internet while standing in the coffeehouse line.) He paid a local kid to take care of the snow in winter and the grass in summer. He thought that providing for their physical needs was enough.
One weekend he happened to be nearby at a conference that ended early, meaning he had some extra time on his hands. He decided to drive an hour or so and pop in for a surprise visit. When he drove into the driveway, he saw a light burning on the porch. He was annoyed by the waste because it was a beautiful, sunny day. As he sat in the car fuming about a few cents of electricity, he realized that their world had grown so much smaller. They were older and didn’t go out much, they weren’t involved in neighborhood activities. They went out to go to get medicine and groceries. They sat on their porch. Waiting.
The man went into the house, shocking his parents. Dad said, “Well, look at this, the big shot finally ran out of gas in our neighborhood.” It was a joke, but all humor has a touch of truth, doesn’t it? His mom nearly dropped her knitting. They spent five hours doing nothing, but he realized it was the most productive five hours in years. He ate his mom’s food, even though it was not in his diet. He talked about the local bird population with his dad. He fixed something on a cell phone. As they talked, the man asked about the porch light. “Because, we never know when the door might need to be found.” They didn’t know he was coming. They never knew if one of their children would come visit. They rarely even heard from any of them, or their grandchildren. The light was a lighthouse inviting their family to visit.
Our parents don’t want what we think they want. They want their children. The parents of the man in the story were elderly, somewhat withdrawn, but that’s not true of many of our parents. We look at their lives and think they are full and happy and active. They still have friends in the neighborhood. They still have a family they love at church. Some still have jobs or volunteer opportunities. We are busy with our own lives, with hectic schedules and daily worries. We are so busy we do not realize that we are stealing something important from the only two people who would trade their last breath to keep us breathing.
They are lonely, not because they don’t have friends, but because they miss their children. They want to know what is going on in their adult lives, even if it seems dull. Most of all, they want to hug us, to feed us the food they made when we were young, to listen to our laughter as we watch a funny movie. They want to share our air, breath in our presence, and praise God that they were blessed to raise children who love them as much as they are loved. We are no longer children. As a matter of fact, many of us have children of our own. Too often we don’t have time for a phone call, or even a text, but think it doesn’t really matter. “They have their own lives,” we think, without realizing how lonely they really are. As a woman who lost her own parents many years ago, I can tell you I still think about them daily and wish I could hug them just one more time.
If you are too busy to visit your mom and dad, remember this story and the commandment from God in today’s scripture passage. Martin Luther wrote in his Small Catechism, “What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.” This isn’t just about being obedient as children, cleaning our rooms and doing well in school. It isn’t even about taking care of them in their old age by paying some bills, ensuring their lawns will be mown and their cell phones will work. It means cherishing them every day, loving them with your presence. It may seem impossible, but you will regret every moment you didn’t spend with them when they are no longer around. You don't realize now how much you need them, too. A day is coming, sooner than you can ever imagine, when the porch light will stop burning. Today is the day to go home and hug the ones who have loved you from the beginning almost as much as the God who blessed you with them.
A WORD FOR TODAY is posted five days a week – Monday through Friday. The devotional on Wednesday takes a look at the scripture from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. A WORD FOR TODAY is posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Word-for-Today-Devotional/339428839418276.