journey with aging parents

I am in the midst of a time in my life when I witness frequently and hear frequently of the time, energy, resources and sacrifices my mom and dad are making to care for their aging parents. I witness the countless hours they spend helping with finances, visiting with them, running errands for them, running them to and from doctor appointments and countless days and nights sitting with them beside a hospital bed. There is something remarkably Christ like in those actions and attitudes flowing from a humble, gracious, loving and kind heart.

It seems from Scripture that the religious leaders and/or Pharisees had devised a way around this seemingly God-given task. Jesus confronts them about this exact issue in Mark 7:9-13. It states, "And he continued, 'You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) - then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” 


What Jesus is saying is that the Pharisees instead of dealing with the time and energy it takes to care for aging parents (which I might add is a greater sacrifice than even the money), devised a 'religious' way out. The Pharisees could designate or devote a certain amount of money to the Temple to be used by the Lord as a gift and they were off the hook for helping minister to their parents. Jesus said this type of action was out of an attitude of arrogance and unkindness and completely nullified the teaching of God. 

Now what, you ask, does this have to do with the Apocrypha, the 1st of the 100 books I am slowly making my way through? Well, where do the Pharisees traditions come from? Certainly not the Apocrypha. In the Apocryphal wisdom book of 'Sirach' (much like Proverbs) there is a short passage dealing with the issue of children caring for their parents. It states, 'My child, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives; even if his mind fails, be patient with him; because you have all your faculties do not despise him. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten and will be credited to you against your sins; in the day of your distress, it will be remembered in your favor; like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.'


What a great word. One I witness nearly everyday of my life put into action. My prayer is that at the end of my parents life I will be God's instrument to show them the same kindness they have shown.