Honor thy father and mother

For over the last year, we have been trying to get our builder to finish repairing our house. It has been a long drawn out process, but little by little things have been completed. The very last thing which needed to be finished was the painting of a set of doors. The doors were installed (unpainted) a few weeks ago. My dad said he was not going to contact the builder because the builder should know that the doors need to be painted. I was utterly frustrated because the builder has many, MANY projects going on. He has to be constantly reminded about every little detail because he cannot remember.

As I was driving home from church on Sunday, I saw the builder walking out of his office to his car. I immediately wanted to pull into the parking lot and remind the builder about our unpainted doors. If my dad was not going to contact the builder, this was my chance. Who would know of my actions? I could remind the builder, and then he would send over the painters to our house. It would appear as though the builder miraculously remembered to finish the project, As these thoughts raced through my head, a very profound message blasted into my conscious: "Honor thy father and mother." Instantly, I knew I must not stop the car, but continue onward. I knew God would see my actions. By stopping and talking to the builder, I would be disobeying my dad. As much as my flesh burned to talk to the builder about the doors, I knew I must refrain and obey God.

As I drove home, I prayed to God. "Oh, Lord, it is so hard to keep your commandments, especially honoring my parents. I want to intervene and set my ways before theirs. Lord, I pray the builder remembers our doors. I pray he sends the painters to our house to paint the doors. Help me to keep Your commandments for Scripture says, 'If you love Me, keep My commandments.' I do love You; so help me obey. Amen."

On Tuesday morning at 9 a.m., the painters showed up unannounced at our house. They uninstalled the doors and transported them to another location to paint them. Ten days later, the doors were returned, painted and were reinstalled. My heart overflows with gratitude to God for hearing my prayer. As much as I wanted to disobey Him to follow my own desires, and to do things my own way, God richly blessed my family by answering my prayer when I decided to keep His commandments. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).