1.┬а
I thank my God,
Each time I think of you mum.
And when I pray for you,
I pray with joy.
2.┬а
I thank my God,
Each time I think of you dad
And when I pray for you,
I pray with joy.
3.┬а
I thank my God
Each time I think of you both.
And when I pray for you,
I pray with joy.
Teacher: What did you feel when you were singing this hymn ?
Nirmal: That we must pray to God for our parents.
Rebecca: Our parents love us a lot. So, we must also love our parents much. We must also obey them. Isn't that so, teacher ?
Teacher: Yes, children. You are quite correct. The two most precious gifts that we received from God, are our life and our faith, and both of our parents. That is why, we must love God first and then love and respect our parents.
Rebecca: Teacher, doesn't the fourth commandment of the ten commandments also tell us that we must respect our parents?
Teacher: Yes Rebecca. We can divide the ten commandments into two main parts. The first part tells us how we must worship God. The second part tells us how we must love our neighbour. So,in the second part,the first thing we are told is, that we must love and respect our parents. Now do you understand how important this commandment is ?
Nirmal: Teacher,one day our Father told us in a sermon,that according to the fourth commandment just as we love our parents we must also love and respect our Church leaders, our teachers,our elders and the leaders of our country.
Teacher: You are correct, Nirmal. The fourth commandment teaches us that we must obey and respect all these persons. So children, from today onwards, in the home, in the school, in the Church and in society, try to live the fourth commandment in loving and respecting them.
From this dialogue, we can see clearly the meaning of the fourth commandment to love and respect our parents. Also,we see many occasions in society, when this commandment is not kept. So, when you see such instances,try to help them to see that it is wrong. It is your responsibility to help them to live as God's children. In the table below, you will see what your duties are in the fourth commandment to live as a Christian. Try to live these in your life.
