Some parents will say:
“I gave birth to you, so you must respect me.”
But respect does not give a parent permission to humiliate, bully, insult, reject, emotionally abuse, or constantly tear down a child.
Some children are called “rebellious” today when, deep down, they are carrying years of pain they have never been allowed to express.
A child who was constantly told:
❌ “You are useless.”
❌ “You will never amount to anything.”
❌ “Look at your brother; you are a disappointment.”
❌ “I wish I never gave birth to you.”
may eventually grow up asking:
“Why should I love someone who spent my childhood making me feel worthless?”
The Bible does not give parents a free pass to crush their children’s spirits.
📖 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
— Ephesians 6:4 (KJV)
And Scripture says:
📖 “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
— Colossians 3:21 (KJV)
Yes, children are commanded to honour their parents.
📖 “Honour thy father and thy mother…”
— Exodus 20:12 (KJV)
But parents also have a responsibility before God for how they treat their children.
And here is the uncomfortable truth:
A child can forgive you and still remember the pain.
Forgiveness does not mean the abuse was acceptable.
Forgiveness does not erase the consequences.
Forgiveness does not mean allowing someone to continue hurting you.
📖 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another…”
— Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
Parents, before you demand respect from your children, ask yourself:
Have I given them a reason to feel safe, loved, valued, and respected in my presence?
Because one day, your children may become adults—and you may discover that the distance between you is not because they suddenly changed.
They may simply be carrying wounds you gave them when they were too young to defend themselves.
💥 WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Should children be expected to forgive their parents even when the parents never apologize or acknowledge the harm they caused?
👇 YES or NO? Tell us why.
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
INSTAGRAM
