SETTING
Boundaries For The Disrespectful Child
BY KELLY ELDERS
Whether disrespect began in childhood or adulthood , the Word of God is still true concerning honor . God has commanded all children to honor their parents , regardless of the child ’ s age . Honor means to “ hold respect or to esteem highly ” ( Merriam- Webster Dictionary ). He didn ’ t stop in the Old Testament , and even mentioned it in the New Testament :
Children , obey your parents in the Lord , for this is right . “ Honor your father and mother ”— which is the first commandment with a promise — “ so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth .” Ephesians 6:1-3
When we choose to honor our parents , it holds blessings . God never said that we were to respect our parents only if the parent deserves it , or if the parent has in some way earned a child ’ s respect . It was simply a command to honor parents regardless of the age or type of parent .
The importance of treating our parents with honor is clearly outlined in the Bible . What , then , do us as parents do if we are faced with a disrespectful child ? Here are a few tips to help you deal with the issue of disrespect .
Tip # 1 : If you Tolerate Behav-