Abandoned by children

Such a lovely home, but abandoned.

A few years ago, I got to know an elderly couple, and we became close friends. They came from a very humble background, and through God's providence, they did very well in the estimation of others - they were able to send all their three children to North America for their education. That's no mean accomplishment for them, having came from a humble background. It is most certainly their sincere desire to give their children a better future. As usual, the children settled there... and the rest is a sad story. The elderly parents were more or less abandoned. They shared with me the pain of being abandoned and neglected by those whom they loved so much! The man, Mr Goh, passed away recently.

Just a few weeks ago, I ministered to another elderly couple. They raised four children - all highly qualified. The man was a medical doctor; after he retired from civil service, he entered the ministry. He ministered for more than a few years among the Anglicans. He is 80+ now... but bedridden and demented. God blessed him with a very strong wife. She shared with me the sad story of being neglected and abandoned by their children... who are busy "doing God's work overseas - what God's work?" (with irony in her voice). She said, "If they would only visit us just once a year, I would have held my peace!"

These observations disturb me deeply!!!

The above account is probably just the tip of a very black iceberg.
======

Willy
Sad to hear such things..
Pastor Lau, maybe this could be God opening doors for you to minister to them......

We may give our children the best education, but we fail to give them the value of God....

Khaw
The training of children starts early. Children somehow see how their own parents treat their forebears, generally of course, though there are some exceptions. One who plants and raises a mango tree would hardly get a coconut as fruit. You see what I mean. Today's parents are too reluctant to exercise strict discipline on their children. They would rather not bother their children, and soon their children forget their parents need their assistance when these old parents need physical and emotional attention

Many decades ago, my eldest brother-in-law told me a story. The story goes this way: the family has three generations living under one roof. The grandpa, dad and son. Soon, grandpa died, pa decided to handle the dead grandpa's body by putting the old dead man's body in a gunny sack. Slinging the gunny sack, pa decided that son should follow along. On reaching a river, pa stooped and was about to throw the gunny sack into the flowing water. Son shouted at pa..stop! Keep the gunny sack; just throw grandpa into the water. Pa asked why? Son replied: the gunny sack would be useful when the time comes for me to likewise dispose your dead body.

The moral of the story: one reaps what he sows (though through God's mercy there are exceptions). I would endeavor we teach our children Xiao Soon (respect and obedience) before it is too late. We should labour to pray to God for guidance and mercy throughout our lives on earth. Surely, God our Father in Heaven shall protect and teach all of us like His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Perfecter of our faith. Our Eldest Brother who submit to the will of His Father for our sake. He took that bitter cup; death on the Cross and the most difficult of all, God the Father turned His face away from Him when the good Lord bore all His children's sins once and for all.

Sing
Someone once said:
Many parents work so hard to give their children a good living.
Alas, they forget to teach their children HOW to live!"
And that's true, from what we see all around us!
I type 'filial piety' and Google Translate gives me:
孝顺 - Xiàoshùn.

Robert Cook Sr.
there are things that are beyond our control but it is the things that are in our control we must not neglect. We busy our minds with all sorts of things but learning how to love like Christ.

PWalters
Parents care for their children when the children are helpless and needy; ought not the children return the favor?

Sing
"... without natural affection..." men have degenerated into brute beast when children has no more natural affection for their parents... Paul has warned of that great evil.

Ro 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Edwards Wong
Without filial have being make it numerically Mr Sing sad to hear abt that in Penang Island country and Malaysia send their kids to North America (Canada, USA and Mexico) usually virtually to each other.

Robert Cook Sr.
There is no greater thing in life than to demonstrate love for one to another, making excuses for neglect of those that need our care, especially our very own parents, is an abomination, and evidence of a hard heart.

Sing
Dreams of parents? Old parents' rule? Pampered? Burden to honour one's parents? We have totally different worldview!

Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Sing
Hey Edward Wong, I cracked my little head trying to understand what you are trying to say! Sorry, can you say it again? Thanks.

Fabio Gardenal Inacio
When a son/daughter forgets their parents he/she is more closer to the devil. That's what I guess.

Julie Mann
SAD!