But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (NKJV) 1 Timothy 5:4
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (NKJV)1 Timothy 5:8
The context of these verses discusses the care of widows by the church, and it gives some requirements or specifications about what constitutes a "widow indeed." But, at the same time, Paul (an inspired apostle of Jesus) lets us know that the church should not have to care for all widows because those widows who have children, grandchildren, or other family are to be cared for first by their own family members.
Many times childen and grandchilden grow up in some ways, but some seem never to grow up enough to understand that those maternal hands that loved them, changed their diapers, fed them, kissed their boo-boos, watched over them when they were sick, and worried over them when they went out of the house, are now to be cared for by those who mother or grandmother cared for many years before.
When mothers and grandmothers reach a point in life where they need help and loving care, we should not expect them to continue to "fork over" money to us for this or that, or to continue sacrificing for us, or to pay us back monetarily every time we spend a dime on them. Now, the "tables are turned." It is time for us to help mother! It is time for us to pay Mom's way in this world. It is time for us to do things for Mother and Grandma that we can do when she can no longer do things for herself. And, we are to do it without expecting her to repay us for our efforts! These are some ways we "requite" or repay the love of mother.
When mother's hands become feeble, when her steps falter, when her sight is blurred, when her hearing is not as acute as once it was, when she is forgetful, and when her health fails or she cannot provide for herself, we must step in and help. We must repay the love that she so freely and graciously gave to us when we were small and unable to care for ourselves, when our feet faltered, and when we could not feed and provide for ourselves.
Paul, the apostle, informs us that if we fail to provide for "our own" or "those of our own household" we have denied the faith (denied Christianity, the system of the one faith) and we are worse than infidels or unbelievers. It should never be said of of a Bible-believer (or of one who claims to be a disciple of Christ), that he or she was so hard-hearted or self-centered that he would not take care of his widowed mother or grandmother in her latter years on earth.
Are you repaying your mother's or grandmother's love? How often do you visit her? Call her? Communicate with her? Take her out (if she is able to go out)? Take her to the doctor? Run errands for her? Clean her house? Prepare her meals? Allow her to talk about the days of her youth that she remembers and cherishes, and listen to what she is saying? How often do you say, "I love you, Mom!"?
Think about it!
SPW
