It is easy to hold a grudge against our parents. As adults, we easily sit in judgment of their words and deeds. With disdain we point the finger and say, “ How could they…” We do not realise that in turn one day our children will point that same accusatory finger at us.
What is worse is that, since our parents are not often present in the realm of our imaginary kangaroo court and even sometime within the realm of humanity itself, we judge and condemn them in absentia. Not only does the Bible forbid such an illegal court, but it also forbids taking a reproach against people. A young adult I know just told us of a story. He was on a nature hike with his young when suddenly a menacing stone rolled down the cliff. The father quickly adjusted his backpack and grabbed the child. To the amazement of both, the stone fell near the place where the child stood. Shaken but thankful, father and son continued their trek. Later that evening when telling of his day to his mother, the child said in a disconcerted voice, “... and Daddy let go of my hand….!” Yes Daddy let go of his hand but it was only to readjust his backpack so he could take the child into his arms. But to this day, even after the child has grown up, all he remembers is that at that traumatic moment, Daddy let go of his hand. This presented the Daddy in question with a crucial lesson. He remembers things from his youth for which he holds a grudge against his parents. Many details are vague now, and even distorted, but he still holds a grudge. The trekking episode with his own son made him wonder if perhaps his judgment was not a little clouded by the immaturity of childhood. The Dad in question started rethinking at the things he held against his parents and realized that maybe things were not necessarily the way he thought them to be; that maybe his accusation against his own parents were as ill-founded as his son's accusation of desertion at a time of danger. This was a landmark for this young father and a good lesson. We are coming near the holiday times when families get together for family dinners and reunions. Let us try to withhold this accusatory finger against our parents. It may be that Dad was just ‘re-adjusting his backpack!’
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