November 25,1996
Dear Br. McGee
It is nice to see a man who is willing to honor his parents by building a house for his mother and taking care of her in her old age instead of placing her in a nursing home. Although your mother is ambulatory, because of your generous nature, she can enjoy her old age with her cats and with you and your wife to provide for her comfort.
Children often abandon their parents when they become a burden
to them, little realizing how many times they sacrificed for their
children, out of love, and seldom complained about the hardships.
How soon we forget the lessons of our parents.
The Lord promised a special blessing for those faithful offspring
who honor their parents. He assured us that they would live long
upon the new earth. It certainly is a mark of our age that few
of our progeny will ever realize this blessing.
Women, with their motherly instincts, are more apt to take care
of their elderly parents then are men. Yet, it has always been
the privilege and responsibility of men to provide a home for
their family, and to care for them, in such a way that his wife,
and the mother of his children, is free of perplexity and care
which enables her to provide for their children. In previous generations,
the grandparents were a welcome guest in the home, a room being
set aside for their use so they could enjoy their grandchildren
and putter about the barn or kitchen during their declining years.
How much we miss when we depart from God’s wisdom and counsel.
Older parents, with their maturity and wisdom, can often impart
to their children the experiences of a life time and spare them
many mistakes and heartaches, if we would only listen.
I am sure you are doing everything you can do make the life of
your mother as enjoyable as possible. The Lord looks upon your
selfless work with approval. It is always acceptable when a man
devotes his time and attention to his parents, without, at the
same time, neglecting his wife and family. We have more time then
we realize to care for others if we are willing to put away selfish
pursuits in favor of their happiness.
It ought to be our greatest joy to do those little or big things for our family or friends that will bring joy into their lives. It takes such a small effort to make someone else happy.
Let me illustrate what I mean. This afternoon, a friend took me
to town so I could do some last minute shopping before the Sabbath.
I knew, from experience, that he likes some small amounts of sweets,
so I purchased a box of Little Debby snack cakes and shared some
with him. This small gift gave him evident pleasure and it only
cost 89 cents. What a small price to pay to bring some pleasure
into another life.
As I said, it takes such little effort to bless another person,
yet what it does take is thoughtfulness and unselfishness, attributes
of Christ, that He freely gives to us. He showers us with favors
every minute of the day, which are calculated to bring joy and
which are a foretaste of life in the family of God in heaven.
But it is not just our family and friends that we are to seek
to please, but those people who despise us, or hate us, or who
are nasty or who we just can’t tolerate, or who have done
something nasty to us, or who have just ignored us. These are
the ones whom the Lord says we are to bless with happiness and
joy, even if it costs a sacrifice.
What a better world this would be if men, such as yourself, would spend more time thinking of others. What gladness it would bring to the heart of God to see His children, especially His men children, reflecting His character of unconditional generosity. We can be like Christ if we choose. It takes such a small effort to bring contentment to another.
May the Lord bless you with prosperity and health. Your brother
in Christ.
Allen Benson