Rose of Sharon
Why do we honour? Do we base our honour on a principle of the heart or do we honour because someone has done something honourable?
As children we are privileged to honour our parents. “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12. Do we honour our parents because and only if we can conclude they’ve done honorably/earned it? Or do we honour our parents because that’s just what we do? God doesn’t qualify the command with any ifs, ands, or buts. Then we shouldn’t either. And we can be sure that there’s a world of good awaiting the child and the parent as this law of love is obeyed.
Honour: To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to.
Respect: To view or consider with some degree of reverence; to esteem as possessed of real worth.
Compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
Humanity: the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.
As Jesus hung upon the cross those dreadful hours of agony, he did not forget his mother. She could not remain away from the suffering scene. Jesus’ last lesson was one of compassion and humanity. He looked upon his mother, whose heart was well nigh bursting with grief, and then upon his beloved disciple John. He said to his mother, Woman, behold thy Son. The said he to John, Behold thy mother. And from that hour John took her to his own house. Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, pg. 60
As the eyes of Jesus wandered over the multitude about Him, one figure arrested His attention. At the foot of the cross stood His mother, supported by the disciple John. She could not endure to remain away from her Son; and John, knowing that the end was near, had brought her again to the cross. In His dying hour, Christ remembered His mother. Looking into her griefstricken face and then upon John, He said to her, “Woman, behold thy son!” then to John, “Behold thy mother!” John understood Christ’s words, and accepted the trust. He at once took Mary to his home, and from that hour cared for her tenderly. O pitiful, loving Saviour; amid all His physical pain and mental anguish, He had a thoughtful care for His mother! He had no money with which to provide for her comfort; but He was enshrined in the heart of John, and He gave His mother to him as a precious legacy. Thus He provided for her that which she most needed,–the tender sympathy of one who loved her because she loved Jesus. And in receiving her as a sacred trust, John was receiving a great blessing. She was a constant reminder of his beloved Master. The Desire of Ages, 591
Jesus’ care for his mother during her time of grief and his concern for her future well-being is a moving testament to the pure goodness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Listen to: The Rose of Sharon by Steve Green, Wayne Watson, Twila Paris
Kshama: Patience. Forbearance. Pardon. 
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