Chapter 13: A Light On My Path

Page 21

What happens to your behavior when you give someone your whole

heart? It is simple, isn’t it? You want to do everything in your power to show your love for such a person, don’t you? One of the ways we show our love is to honor such a person. In fact, we are admonished by God to honor the wife of our youth. True love doesn’t stop such honor because of age.

While Jackie was dying, she asked me: “Ed, will you do me a favor and paint the small bedroom?” She asked me this 2-3 times and I always answered yes. I haven’t gotten around to this task yet. However, it is on the

list of the things that I have to do. Not because I personally want the room painted. In my maleness, the room is acceptable as is. No, I will paint the room because I want to honor Jackie. I will paint it because she asked.

Therefore, part of our honoring of those we love is to actually do what

they would like us to do. Jackie’s spirit is always around me. When I reach for the wrong shirt to go with some pants, I can still hear her voice saying: “You can’t wear that shirt with those pants.” She also liked to keep a clean and neat house. So guess what? I keep a clean and neat house just to honor

her. She liked the bed made and every day that I make it — I know that I honor her memory. In short, when we really love someone, we honor him or her with our actions. This honor in their absence is also in the form of behavior that is inline with what they would want done had they been here

with us. Isn’t that what we hope our kids will do when we go on vacation without them? Honor us with their good behavior? And it really doesn’t matter if that special someone is physically with us on earth, does it? Honor as a character trait seems to be losing devotees lately. Obedience is also a

part of honor. When we love one another, we honor and obey each other. Often, it’s our obedience that demonstrates our honor. It shows our respect.

It is the same thing with God and His Son. Jesus says that if we really

believe in him, we will honor him just like we honor God. That involves our obedience to both their instructions. Listen and consider the word of God.

“That all should honor the Son just as they honor the

Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” John 5:23