Hi, my parents separated when I was 9 because my dad had an affair with my mother's youngest sister and had a child with her. My mother tried to commit suicide on finding out. I grew up very quickly, being the elder of 2 kids.
When I was 14, my mother left the country and left us with my father and his (new) family. I'd never spoken to them or met them since my parents had split. Life with my stepmother/aunt was weird, to say the least. I grieved by burying myself in my books and by dating (older) men.
When I was 18, I took my sister and followed my mother overseas, where we now live.
My mother remarried a divorced pastor a few years ago, while we were still living at home. One day I found out that he had been 'sexual' with my sister, supposedly under the influence of drowsy medication. When confronted, he denied any wrongdoing, but my sister's version was clearly different. We lived with this secret for many months, until we told my mother what happened. Soon after, I helped my sister move out of home (my mother had a nervous breakdown at the time) and I got married and moved out a year or so later.
My mother and my stepfather have recently started a CHURCH! They acknowledge no wrongdoing and my mother reckons we over-reacted. My sister is against Christianity and refuses to go to church or even listen to any of it. My husband and I are born again (3 years ago) and we are youth leaaders in our church.
My problem is that my mother expects usto remember their wedding anniversary, call them often and do all those things like nothing ever happened. Even though I've gone through the agony of all my parents' mistakes and chosen to forgive them, I can't behave like her marriage to him is a joyous act to be celebrated! IT IS NOT!!! I can barely come to terms with the fact that they are husband and wife (he initiated the divorce from his wife, who was shocked by his leaving), let alone revere anniversaries!
My husband has already decided that our kids (when we have them) are NOT going to stay at their place (who knows what could happen)?
On the surface, everyone acts like nothing happened and has decided it best to let well alone. However, that doesn't mean we can act all affectionate.
My question is: how can I fufil God's command of honouring my parents??? Please give me a prayerful answer. I need it.
Florence.
When I was 14, my mother left the country and left us with my father and his (new) family. I'd never spoken to them or met them since my parents had split. Life with my stepmother/aunt was weird, to say the least. I grieved by burying myself in my books and by dating (older) men.
When I was 18, I took my sister and followed my mother overseas, where we now live.
My mother remarried a divorced pastor a few years ago, while we were still living at home. One day I found out that he had been 'sexual' with my sister, supposedly under the influence of drowsy medication. When confronted, he denied any wrongdoing, but my sister's version was clearly different. We lived with this secret for many months, until we told my mother what happened. Soon after, I helped my sister move out of home (my mother had a nervous breakdown at the time) and I got married and moved out a year or so later.
My mother and my stepfather have recently started a CHURCH! They acknowledge no wrongdoing and my mother reckons we over-reacted. My sister is against Christianity and refuses to go to church or even listen to any of it. My husband and I are born again (3 years ago) and we are youth leaaders in our church.
My problem is that my mother expects usto remember their wedding anniversary, call them often and do all those things like nothing ever happened. Even though I've gone through the agony of all my parents' mistakes and chosen to forgive them, I can't behave like her marriage to him is a joyous act to be celebrated! IT IS NOT!!! I can barely come to terms with the fact that they are husband and wife (he initiated the divorce from his wife, who was shocked by his leaving), let alone revere anniversaries!
My husband has already decided that our kids (when we have them) are NOT going to stay at their place (who knows what could happen)?
On the surface, everyone acts like nothing happened and has decided it best to let well alone. However, that doesn't mean we can act all affectionate.
My question is: how can I fufil God's command of honouring my parents??? Please give me a prayerful answer. I need it.
Florence.
