A Biblical Response to the Fifth Commandment Under the Stress of Caring for Their Aging Parents

Increasingly, adult children are put in a position of caring for their parents when their disability limits their ability to care for themselves. Elder caregiving eats up resources of time and energy, fosters negative emotional response, and forces decision making in new areas of life. When this demand is added to an already busy life, adult children experience a sense of overwhelming pressure. This project offers scriptural principles to help the Christian understand how to obey the Fifth Commandment in a way that turns discouragement into solid spiritual growth. The meaning of 'honoring' parents is explained and applied in today's setting. The aging process and its losses and the options open to caregivers are set forth so solid decisions about caregiving can be made. The central theme of responding by trusting and obeying God's plan so spiritual growth can occur makes this project unique. This project is set in the form of a proposed book manuscript, and a central character is developed who is walked through the challenge of caring for her aging mother.