The Question: You haven’t seen your other parent (sometimes it’s the moms who leave) since you were very young or not at all. The parent who raised you calls to let you know the estranged parent contacted him/her out of the blue and is in a very bad way. S/he is in need of constant supervision, s/he has no friends to help him/her and no money to pay a nurses’ service or move into a facility that offers constant care. Would you allow your newly-found parent to move in with you and care for his/her needs??
My 2 Cents: First, let me begin my saying I thank God that I’ve been fortunate enough to have my mother and father in my life for my entire life. I know that having a two-parent household afforded me the opportunity to have experiences and privileges that may not have been possible with just one parent and three children. I do not take it lightly. If either of my parents needed constant care, I think my siblings and I would fight each other to take in one or both of them. They’ve been that good to us and for us. OK, having said that, let me answer the question.
I’d like to believe that as a follower of Christ I’d provide the care that a sick parent needed, even if s/he had abandoned me when I was small and I hadn’t seen him/her for most of my life. I know that’s what God would want me to do. However, I’d have to do a whole, whole, whole, whole–did I say whole–lot of praying to actually come to the decision to do it and follow through with doing it, and I’d probably initially say “Heck, no!” before I had a chance to think about it in terms of my spiritual obligation to “honor my mother and father.” That’d be my human nature overriding my spirit. When it’s all said and done, though, I’d like to believe I’d overcome my flesh and do the charitable and honorable thing, and I’d learn to reconcile with it at some point during and/or after it’s done.
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Take a few moments to check out the tweets from Twitter on this subject:
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PROTECTED TWEETER probably would because still a parent n I would need to hear both sides. Can’t go to heaven w/hatred in ur heart.
EpicView_SP Hard question but I think I would try to pay for someone to help take care of the estranged parent.
shargrove NO-this parent could not move in with me. However, I would find/contribute resources to facility to help with their care
PROTECTED TWEETER That would be a big no. [BLEEP] NO. I would consider sending some support (minimal) and I would contact a s
PROTECTED TWEETER It takes being a caregiver to understand what one will do. I would not do it. But that is me.
PROTECTED TWEETER nope. If I had the $, I’d hire someone to take care of her/him
MissMeandI – My parents slip up a long time ago, but I’ve had contact with both and STILL wouldn’t let my dad come live with me
coffeesassy Hard question but I say ‘yes’.
Grimsta2003 nope. I wouldn’t. If I had the resources to help I would but I wouldn’t personally watch him/her
rishaholmes I would take care of my parent…it is the right thing to do., no matter what.
SoftSpoken2 it would be difficult but I would. I consider myself a good person who does good things and usually follow the golden rule.
xsashagirl Yes, I would put my pride aside and take care of my estranged parent because they are human in need.
Teaguem2005 …..aw [bleep] no!
md20737 I sure would not allow them to move with me. I wld give them suggestions on what they could do.
NightShade10 probably not, because being a parent has nothing to do with your “gene donation” and everything to do with your “time donation”
JoshDamage I dont think I would I am sorry. taking care of someone sick is a big job without the extra emotions and feelings. its too much
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The commentary doesn’t have to end!
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