Whoso curseth father or mother

Have you cursed your parents without realizing?

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.  Prov 20:20

That word "curseth" means: to despise, bring into contempt (meaning strongly disapprove of them), willfully disobey or disrespect.  (H7043)

Sometimes these feelings develop because the child is strong-willed.

Sometimes these feelings develop because the parent is unloving and abusive.

Yet I've even seen some of the best and loving parents cursed and despised by their child because an unclean spirit has taken hold of them.

Parents: as hurtful as it is, recognize the spirit behind their attacks, continue to love them and pray for them. 

Children (even if now an adult): it's hard to show honor to a parent who is spiteful,  hateful,  abusive, and unloving yet the Bible warns not to despise them. 

Seems a little unfair, right? Especially when you may have been severely traumatized by that parent.  God sees and keeps record.  Seeking to forgive and having a right heart is for your sake, not theirs - it frees you! 

Bitterness, anger, and hate puts YOU in bondage. It eats at you and destroys your joy, your peace, your happiness and can even destroy relationships. 

Seek to forgive. It's hard. The painful memories resurface as you wonder why they treated you like they did? How could they do that? It's not right! You didn't deserve it! Although oft times the victim is told they did. 

Seek to forgive - as hard as it is. Forgiveness does not mean putting yourself back in harm's way. It does not condone or justify wrong actions or words. But it frees you from bitterness destroying your heart and soul. 

Jesus forgave those crucifying Him. Oh, to be like Jesus.  

Don't let your lamp be put out into obscure darkness over your reaction to someone else's actions.  💔

And parent: if you have treated your child spitefully,  hatefully, and been abusive through actions or words, ask God tocreate in you a clean heart, repent, and seek reconciliation with the child you were supposed to protect and nurture. 

Time is winding down fast. 

Faster than many realize.  

NOTHING is worth being lost for eternity over.