04.02.20 The 16th Key for Adding Value to Your Parents' Lives

16. Protect your Parents

The story of Ruth narrates how she cared for her mother-in-law thence ensuring her protection. In addition, let me introduce another woman called Rahab, who went to great lengths to protect her parents from danger. It all started when Rahab hid the Israelite spies from their pursuers after they (spies) had completed their mission of scouting Jericho. When the pursuers left Rahab's house, she helped the spies to escape through a window in her house which was conveniently located in the city wall. Joshua 2:12-13 relates how Rahab negotiated with the men (spies) to secure the safety of her parents in exchange for her ‘hospitality’. That scripture reads: ¹² Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give mea true token, ¹³and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”  The men promised to spare Rahab’s family provided she would bind a scarlet cord in the window through which she had let them down.

Joshua 6:21-25 narrates what happened when eventually, the Israelites attacked Jericho (NKJV): ²¹And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword. ²²But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” ²³And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab,her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. ²⁴But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. ²⁵And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. That was how Rahab’s determination to protect her parents added value to their lives.

A value-adding daughter does whatever is in her power to see that her parents are safe and secure.

Therefore, protecting your parents will make them feel that they are in safe hands and highly valued. It sends a message that you are committed to preserving their lives from any kind of catastrophe; and that you would gladly have them with you on earth forever if you had that choice.