I believe it to be literally true that our temporal condition depends
on the way we act upon this commandment. "Honor thy father and mother,
(which is the first commandment with promise), that it may be well
with thee, and that thou mayest live long on the earth." "Honor thy
father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that
thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the
land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." "Cursed is he that setteth
light by his father or mother." "Whoso curseth his father or mother,
his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness." It would be easy to
multiply texts from the Bible to prove this truth. Experience teaches
the same thing. A good, loving son generally turns out better than a
refractory son. Obedience and respect at home prepare the way for
obedience to the employer, and are joined with other virtues that help
toward a prosperous career, crowned with a ripe, honored old age.
Disobedience and disrespect for parents are often the first steps in
the downward track. Many a criminal has testified that this is the
point where he first went astray. I have lived over sixty years, and I
have learned one thing if I have learned nothing else--that no man or
woman who dishonors father or mother ever prospers.
Young man, young woman, how do you treat your parents? Tell me that,
and I will tell you how you are going to get on in life. When I hear a
young man speaking contemptuously of his grey-haired father or mother,
I say he has sunk very low indeed. When I see a young man as polite as
any gentleman can be when he is out in society, but who snaps up his
mother and speaks unkindly to his father, I would not give the snap of
my finger for his religion. If there is any man or woman on earth that
ought to be treated kindly and tenderly, it is that loving mother or
that loving father. If they cannot have your regard through life, what
reward are they to have for all their care and anxiety? Think how they
loved you and provided for you in your early days.