Honoring my Parents.

I thank God for my parents.  They laid down their lives to rear me and give me a good start in life.  I was not as loving and thankful for their care as I should have been when they were alive.  I realise  the work involved in raising children after rearing my own.  I did not honor them as I should have.  Being a parent is often a thankless task.  I feel honored if my children are thoughtful to me and thank me.  I understand how my parents must have felt when I did not get in touch.

My fourteenth child Angela was born.  I was faithful in looking after my husband and other children.  I was praying for more provision and space for our big family.   As my family increased, the house we lived in seemed to get smaller and smaller as my children grew.  I needed more space.  I believed God’s word where the children of Israel were given land according to the size of their tribe.  I had a big tribe and I was asking God for more room.  I applied to rent various bigger properties but no door opened.  There was no breakthrough so I became discouraged.

I had a strong desire to move to a bigger house, perhaps the country, so my children could enjoy the outdoors.  I grew up in the country side.  I used to play outside with my brothers and sisters and make up our own games.  Now in the winter time I got frustrated with everyone indoors in the bad weather.  The only space I had to myself was my own side of the bed.  I got cabin fever.  Brendan was very good.  We would go for drives to forests and beaches for long walks.  The children were able to run about and let off steam.  This eased the immediate pressure.

I believe the Holy Spirit guided me to read the Commandments in Exodus 20.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that it will be well with you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (‭Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭12‬ NIV)

I left home when I was eighteen years old to go to university.  I got married when I was twenty.  I carried on with my life and did not thank or honor my parents.  I was busy looking at my own situation.  God showed me I was under a curse because I had not honored my parents.  It was not going well for me.   Yes I wanted to obey God and pray but I believe there was something wrong.  Was I to continue in hardship, feeling the frustration of limited space, because I had a big family.  I believed children were a blessing from The Lord and I needed his guidance and strength to rear them.

I needed someone to help me.  I read a book by Derek Prince called Blessings and Curses.  In it he explains how someone can be under a curse.  I read about John and Paula Sandford from America, who prayed for people in the area of family.  I rang up their offices in America to enquire if they were coming to the UK any time in the future.  Yes they had a conference in May of that year.  I booked my place at the event.  My husband came with me.

The first night of the conference John Sandford, who was an older man, spoke.  He sounded like my own father.  I broke down and cried.  I continued to cry while he spoke.  The curse was being broken and my healing started.  My parents were both dead at that time so I couldn’t go to them and apologise.  I asked Jesus to forgive me.  He forgave me and broke the curse I was under because of my disobedience to the word of God which says honor your mother and father.

The following year breakthrough came.  We moved to a bigger house with more space for all of us.   The pressure was released.  I had joy in knowing God cared for me.
This may seem strange to you.  You may not have heard of a curse before.  I share this story because this is what happened to me.  Perhaps it will help you.
Jesus breaks a curse and brings a cure.

Cartoon from Smokey Mountain Photos