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The Daily Devotional
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
The Promise of Letting Go: Honoring Father and Mother
“Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” — Ephesians 6:2-3
Introduction
Today is February 17th, known to many as Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. While the world often focuses on the festivities of "Fat Tuesday," the word "Shrove" comes from the old word shrive, meaning to present oneself for confession, absolution, and spiritual cleaning before the season of Lent begins tomorrow.
As we prepare our hearts for this season, we turn to one of the most foundational—and often most difficult—instructions God left us: the command to honor our parents. It is unique among the Ten Commandments because it is the only one that carries a specific transactional promise: so that it may be well with you. But what does it mean to honor those who may have hurt us?
Reflection
When we read "honor your father and mother," many of us instinctively flinch. We know that parents are not perfect. In fact, many people carry deep scars from fathers who were absent or abusive, or mothers who were critical or uncompassionate. How can God ask us to "honor" a source of pain?
Consider the everyday task of cleaning out a garage or a basement. Over the years, we shove boxes into the corners—boxes filled with broken tools, old receipts, and things we don't know what to do with. We ignore them, but eventually, the clutter becomes so dense that we can’t even walk through the room. We trip over the past; the environment becomes hazardous.
Resentment toward our parents is like those stacked boxes. When we hold onto anger regarding how we were raised—the harsh words, the neglect, the mistakes—we aren't hurting them as much as we are cluttering our own spiritual "house." We trip over these resentments daily. They block our joy and occupy space where peace should reside.
To "honor" in this context does not mean to endorse abuse or pretend that the past was perfect. It means to view our parents through the lens of God's grace—acknowledging that they, too, were flawed humans, perhaps acting out of their own unhealed traumas. To honor them is to release the debt they owe us. We forgive not because what they did was right, but because we want to claim the promise: so that it may be well with you. We forgive so we can stop living in the cluttered basement of the past and step into the light of a long, healthy life.
Application
This Shrove Tuesday, as you prepare for the Lenten season, I challenge you to perform a distinct act of "spiritual cleaning."
The Letter of Release: If you are holding onto resentment, anger, or pain from your childhood, sit down today and write a letter to your parent (whether they are living or deceased).
Pour out everything. Write down the anger, the disappointment, and the specific memories that haunt you.
Do not hold back; this letter is for you, not them.
Once it is written, instead of mailing it, destroy it. Burn it safely or shred it.
As you destroy the paper, visualize yourself handing the judgment of your parents over to God. You are acknowledging that while the pain was real, you are choosing to evict the bitterness from your heart so that you may be well.
Conclusion
God is the ultimate Parent, the one who fills the gaps left by our earthly mothers and fathers. By choosing to forgive and release our resentments, we are not dismissing our pain; we are trusting God to handle the justice and the healing. Honoring your parents is the key that unlocks your own freedom, allowing you to live a life unburdened by the weight of yesterday.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, on this day of preparation, I bring the relationships with my parents before You. You know the history, the hurts, and the scars I carry. I ask for the supernatural strength to forgive where human strength fails. Help me to release the resentment I have held in my heart, not because the actions were acceptable, but because I desire the peace You promised. Heal my memories, comfort my inner child, and help me to honor my parents by placing them into Your hands, so that it may be truly well with my soul. Amen.
Devotional by: Kenny Sallee, ThM — Deming, NM, USA
The Bible texts are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993, the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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