Talking back/ Honor

Do you have a terrible habit of talking back? I bet you said “no” or shook your head. I hope you don’t talk back to your parents, teachers, grandparents, or other adults.

Look at this picture of a cute cuddly kitten.  

Don’t you just want to hug it and feel its soft fur on your cheek? Kittens are so cute! I love to play with them and listen to their little meow and sometimes loud purr.

Fluffy is pure white and very soft with a long tail, short ears, soft whiskers, pink nose, and a scratchy tongue. 

Fluffy’s tongue is scratchy because she uses it to clean herself. It is like a scrub brush. Hehe, it is silly to think of her tongue as a scrub brush. God made it special for that purpose. Have you felt the tongue of a kitten or cat? It is tickly and scratchy at the same time.

Fluffy not only uses her tongue to clean herself, but she uses it to talk too. Meow! Meow! Most of the time her words are nice, but not all the time. Fluffy has a terrible habit of talking back! Oh, No!

She has a big family with two brothers, mommy, daddy, two grandmas, aunts, uncles, and a lot of cousins. Fluffy loves it when her cousins come for a visit. They like to eat treats together and play outside. They love to chase bugs and birds. Sometimes they chase each other and roll all around in the grass. Then they sit and clean themselves up by using their tongues. Often they are tired from playing and curl up together to take a quick nap or what we call a cat nap. 

Fluffy’s family was getting ready for their aunt, uncle, and cousins to come over. Mommy told the kittens to clean up their room. It went something like this:

Mommy said, “Kittens clean up your rooms.”

Fluffy said, “Not now, I’m playing.”

Mommy said, “Fluffy, right now!”

Fluffy wined, “Aaahhh.”

Mommy said firmly, “Little lady, I didn’t ask for your opinion, now go clean your room.” Slowly Fluffy went to clean up her room. After half an hour the other kittens were finished but not Fluffy. Mommy came to Fluffy’s room. “Fluffy, look at this mess, you hardly started cleaning.”

“But Mom.” Fluffy whined.

“No buts about it, and no more playing. Get your room cleaned up because your cousins are coming. You don’t want them to play with your brothers while you're in here cleaning all by yourself. Do you?”

“No but it is so hard to do!” Fluffy moaned. 

“Get busy.” said Mommy as she left.

Fluffy was just finishing making her bed when she heard her cousins arrive. She ran out just as Mommy was coming to her room. She almost ran into Mommy. Mommy grabbed her and said, “Wait a minute young lady. You almost knocked me down. Did you finish cleaning your room?”

“Yep, go ahead and look if you don’t believe me.” Fluffy sassed back.

“Alright young lady, I have had enough of your back talking. Let’s go back to your room.” said Mommy.

“Why?” asked Fluffy.

Mommy pulled fluffy into her room. The room was pretty well cleaned. It did pass inspection, but that is not why Mommy was upset with Fluffy. Can you guess why Fluffy’s mommy is upset?

Mommy said, “Fluffy, lately you have been talking back to me and your father and Grandmas. Almost every time we ask you to do something you say something sassy back. Like when I asked you to clean up your room. I want you to think about your attitude. So sit on your bed until I come back.

Fluffy burst into tears and said, “That’s not fair!” 

Mommy replied, “That answer is just what I am talking about!” Mommy closed the door on Fluffy’s sobs.

After a while Fluffy stopped crying. She could hear her brothers and cousins playing without her in the yard. Fluffy really wanted to play and was sad and angry she couldn’t go out. At first she thought it wasn’t fair, then she remembered how she had been acting lately.

One time she had told her grandma, “No.” She had felt bad at the time but didn’t apologize. Another time her grandma asked her to do something and she lied and said her mommy said she didn’t have to do it. All these things were coming back to her memory. 

Soon Mommy came in and sat down next to Fluffy. “Fluffy have you been thinking about why you are in trouble?” Fluffy nodded. “Can you explain it to me?” asked Mommy.

Fluffy quietly said, “Because I’ve been talking back.”

Mommy asked, “What else have you been doing?” Fluffy shrugged her shoulders. Mommy continued, “You have not been obeying right away.” What should your response have been when I told you to clean your room?”

Fluffy responded, “I should have said, ‘Yes ma’am and gone and done it right away instead of playing.”

Mommy said, “That’s right.”

Fluffy said, “Mommy I am sorry I’ve been talking back.”

Mommy hugged Fluffy and said, “I forgive you. Now wash your face and go out to play.”

Giggling, Fluffy licked her paw and rubbed it over her face until she knew she was all clean. That was a nice way for fluffy to use her tongue. Don’t you think?

When we answer back like the kitten Fluffy did, it is talking back and being disrespectful to our elders. The Bible says in Exodus 20:12 and also in Deuteronomy 5:16a, Honor your father and your mother as the Lord your God has commanded you. Matthew 15:4 says, For God commanded saying, Honor your father and your mother, and he who curses father or mother let him be put to death. What does honor mean? Honor means respect, esteem, value, or heed. So the next time your parents or someone in authority over you tell you to do something like clean your room, eat all your food, feed the dog, do your homework, wash your face, and brush your teeth how should you respond? By saying “Yes ma’am or yes sir” and go do it right away. Ephesians 6:1-3 says, Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. Everything in the Bible is important, but when it is repeated many times it is very important. So remember to honor your father and mother. One way to do that is to not talk back.

Memorize Ephesians 6:2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise;

Verses in NKJ unless otherwise stated.