“Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your children,” read a poster in Brussels, Belgium.

However, as author Jean Kerr wrote, “The real threat in dealing with a 5-year-old is that before long you start sounding like one.”

The fifth commandment is designed to keep parents sane by giving children a guiding principle in their behavior and attitudes toward their parents. I asked my friends to tell me how they honor their parents. If your behavior matches your answers, your parents are not only sane but very happy.

“I honor my parents by giving them hugs and kisses. I also honor them by buying them TCBY treats,” says 10-year-old Angela.

Frozen yogurt with hugs and kisses! If TCBY could package this combination, I’m sure its stock would skyrocket.

“I obey my mother and father by waking up in the morning as sweet as cake,” says 7-year-old Kaitlin.

I’m still working on this one. When I wake up in the morning, I am thankful if I don’t get hurt by tripping on the furniture.

Kaitlin also told me, “When the Bible says that your days will be longer (if you honor your father and mother), it means that you will live longer.”

In a society obsessed with living longer through exercise and nutrition, how many doctors and health food companies recommend honoring parents? However, long life is a promise from God to those who honor their parents.

“I honor my parents by obeying,” says 10-year-old Christine. “Like when they say bring them some water, I do. I treat them like a king and queen.”

I bet Christine’s parents treat her like a princess. It is very easy to take parents for granted. Can you imagine a society in which the attitude of Bart Simpson was not glorified? Why imagine when it is in your power to be kind to your parents instead of being disrespectful? They are not perfect, but neither are you.

“I love my mother and my father,” says 11-year-old Gardner. “They are the best. I try to obey them. I know they love me and I love them.”

Something tells me that Gardner will never visit a psychiatrist’s office in an effort to find himself. Since he knows that his parents love him unconditionally, he is safe and can love them in return. Love fosters love.

Years ago, I saw my friend Peter scold his 2-year-old son for continuing to throw soap suds in a car after being told to stop. Peter calmly asked his son to hold out his hand. After a gentle pat on the hand, her son began to cry.

At first, he was confused because the light hit didn’t justify the tears. Suddenly I understood and said to Peter, “Your disapproval hurts more than the tap on the hand.” He nodded.

Only a parent who loves their child can evoke such a response. This is the power of unconditional love.

God’s love for his children is similar to the love of parents for theirs with one very important difference: even the best parents have flaws. God is perfect.

Jesus is the best example of a son who honors his father. He heard his Father’s voice and did only what he heard from his Father. His love for his Father and his desire to please him was so great that he was able to say, “He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23). His will was one.

Obedience and honor are interconnected. The apostle Paul wrote that Jesus humbled himself and “became obedient unto death, death on the cross.”

Reflection Point: God has promised to bless those who honor their parents.

Scripture to Remember: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6: 1).

Question to consider: How do you honor your parents?