There are now many more than the 2010 count of 40,267,984 folks over 65. Since the Government began paying 90% of Hospice care the cost has risen from about $1,000,000,000 to $15,000,000,000 per year. Which raises the issue among we Christians, are we really honoring our parents when we tuck them out of sight in some assisted living enterprise excusing our own responsibilities? Of course there are situations where no other choice is appropriate. But surely our own comfort shouldn’t be one of them. The temptation is to conclude we’re not equipped for such care, so the “out of sight out of mind” choice begins their “imprisonment” and we really think they’re better off. But does that square with what the Bible says? “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you”. (Exo.20:12 NLT) That’s OT but it doesn’t end there. “Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.” ( 1 Tim. 5:3 NLT) “But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers”.(1Tim. 4:8 NLT). Yep, tough stuff.
