Exodus 20:8-12 (Keep it holy...)

Today in my series on the Commandments, I'm looking at two different aspects of relationship. First is our relationship to ourselves and our time.

In the daily hustle and bustle of our lives, it can be very easy to forget to stop and rest. Our phones ensure we're always contactable and, with social media, we always have something to distract us.

My wife and I seem to find that we have big plans for evenings and weekends and, when they're finished, we've barely scratched the surface.

It's not because we don't have time. It's because of how we spend it.

For us a typical Sunday involves a bit of a sleep-in, church, lunch and then some general hanging out. Often TV in the evening then bed and a lot of reading. This sounds great and looks like a nice relaxing time. However, it seldom is.

Sure, we may be trying to avoid obvious work, but we fill our time with internet pages, Facebook and, particularly in my case, mobile games on my phone.

Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Sitting around and playing games doesn't sound very holy. And truth be told, it's not. In a perfect world we'd spend our time in prayer and reading from God's word. Our meals would be simple and prepared ahead of time. Problem is, I'm so used to being busy and having my mind kept occupied that I've forgotten how to just be.

A long silence is uncomfortable for me (In my case, long is about 7 seconds!). I might tell you I'm relaxing, but I'm keeping my mind running a million miles an hour.

How can I put this time aside and keep it holy? How can I restore the relationship I have with my time to a place that it pleases God? Serious questions there and I'd love to hear any ideas you might have about how to do it. Let me know on Facebook.

And now for our second commandment. This deals with our relationship to our parents.

As I write this it's Mother's Day here in New Zealand and, by the time this publishes online, it'll still be Mother's Day in parts of the world (I'm looking at you Bulgaria). And so it seems apt to look at the next commandment a little earlier than planned:

Exodus 20:12
“Honour your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

This is obviously about our relationship with our parents. Seems simple enough and, in general, for me it is. My parents are easy for me to respect and be proud of. Sure there were times where the relationship was strained, but we still love each other and enjoy being a family. Could be that having the Tasman Sea between us helps as well :).

For some people though, it can be much harder to honour your parents. How can you honour someone who beat you? Someone who showed you no love? Someone who didn't want you?

I can't honestly answer that question, but I know for sure that God can help in any situation.

Our unique family involves access by other parents and this has it own complications. And in these complications is where I found myself relying on this commandment.

It is so vitally important for me that our kids know their birth parents and are able to honour them. They don't need to put them on a pedestal, but they do need to know they are their parents. No matter what happened or happens, they will always be their parents.

Honesty is vital for my kids when it comes to reasons they are with us, but more important is that we never speak ill of their parents in their hearing. When our kids honour their parents, they acknowledge that, despite their faults, they are their parents and deserve to be loved.

I hope they feel the same way about us in spite of our faults.

So wherever you are, and whatever you're doing, take a moment to remember your parents and reflect on the fact that, although they have faults and may not have been perfect, they are still your parents and deserve your love. Nothing a person can do to you is greater than the love and forgiveness you can give in return. Ask God and pray for help if you need it.

Pick up a phone and call. Who knows, you might make a new friend.