How can adults honour their parents if they live far away?

By calling regularly, writing letters, and staying engaged with their lives even from a distance.

What if my parents expect control over my adult decisions?

You can honour them by listening respectfully, but ultimately decisions must align with God’s will and personal responsibility.

Is financial support required to honour parents?

Not always, but helping when possible reflects love and gratitude, especially in times of need.

How can I honour parents who were not supportive or kind?

Through respectful communication, forgiveness, and prayer — while maintaining healthy boundaries.

Does honouring parents stop after they pass away?

No. You can continue honouring them by preserving their memory and living out their values.

Practical Ways For Adult Children To Honour Their Parents

Many people think of “Honour your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12) as a rule for children. Honouring parents doesn’t end when we leave home; it continues throughout life in different, practical ways.

Table of Contents

Honouring Through Gratitude

Adult children often see more clearly the sacrifices their parents made. Expressing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to show honour.

Expressing Thanks Regularly

A call, message, or heartfelt letter of appreciation communicates love and acknowledgment. Gratitude doesn’t have to be grand; consistency is what matters.

Acknowledging Sacrifice

Parents often gave time, resources, and effort. Honouring them means recognizing those sacrifices and affirming their impact.

Honouring Through Care

As parents age, adult children are often called to step into supportive roles.

Providing Practical Help

Running errands, helping with appointments, or offering financial support are concrete ways to honour parents.

Emotional and Spiritual Support

Listening to concerns, praying together, and offering companionship show care beyond physical needs.

Honouring Through Presence

Time is one of the greatest gifts adult children can offer.

Making Time a Priority

Visiting regularly, including parents in family events, or inviting them to spend time with grandchildren demonstrates value.

Creating Shared Memories

Trips, meals, and traditions reinforce that parents are still central to family life.

Honouring Through Respectful Independence

Adult children often face tension between independence and parental influence.

Setting Boundaries with Love

Independence doesn’t mean dishonour. Setting respectful boundaries preserves healthy relationships while still showing dignity.

Seeking Wisdom Without Blind Obedience

Adult children honour parents by considering their guidance while also making prayerful, responsible decisions.

Honouring Parents Spiritually

The relationship is not only practical but spiritual.

Praying for Parents

Lifting them up in prayer is a form of love and intercession that blesses both generations.

Sharing Faith

Encouraging parents in their walk with God, or even introducing them to faith if they are not believers, reflects deep honour.

Honouring Parents Through Legacy

Even after parents pass away, honour continues.

Preserving Their Memory

Maintaining family traditions, sharing stories, and celebrating their influence are ways to keep their honour alive.

Living Out Their Values

Carrying forward faith, kindness, and wisdom reflects their teaching and honors their investment.

Honouring Parents in Marriage and Family Life

For adult children who are married, honouring parents must be balanced with honouring one’s spouse.

Balancing “Leaving and Cleaving”

Genesis 2:24 teaches that marriage creates a new family unit. Honour remains, but loyalty shifts to the spouse first.

Including Parents Without Losing Boundaries

Inviting parents to be part of family celebrations and decisions — without allowing overreach — shows healthy respect.

Cultural Perspectives on Honouring Parents

Different cultures emphasize this command in unique ways.

Eastern cultures stress filial piety, where caring for aging parents is a duty.
Western cultures emphasize independence but still value respect through visits and communication.
Biblical culture tied honouring parents to covenant blessing and national stability.

➡️ Adult children today can learn from each model: balance independence, responsibility, and covenant respect.

Honouring Parents in Public and Community Life

Honour is not just private — it’s also shown publicly.

Speaking Well of Parents

Avoiding criticism and gossip honours their dignity. Public gratitude reflects biblical respect.

Witnessing Through Family Life

How adult children treat their parents becomes a testimony to friends, co-workers, and neighbours. Respect in action witnesses to God’s design for family.

When Honouring Parents Is Difficult

Some adults face strained or broken relationships with parents.

Showing Respect Without Compromise

Honour does not mean enabling harmful behaviour. Boundaries, forgiveness, and prayerful distance can still reflect dignity without agreement.

Seeking Healing in Christ

God provides strength to forgive and show grace, even in painful circumstances. Honouring parents in such cases is ultimately about reflecting Christ’s love.

Why Honouring Parents as Adults Matters

Honouring parents in adulthood is not only relational but also deeply spiritual.

It reflects obedience to God’s timeless command.
It strengthens family ties and generational faith.
It serves as a witness of Christ’s love in a watching world.

Honouring Parents as an Ongoing Calling

Honouring your parents as an adult is a lifelong calling. It looks different from childhood obedience but is equally important: gratitude, care, presence, respect, and spiritual support. Even when relationships are complicated, showing dignity and love reflects God’s heart.

For deeper study, explore resources like GotQuestions for biblical insights on honouring parents at every stage of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can adults honour their parents if they live far away?
By calling regularly, writing letters, and staying engaged with their lives even from a distance.
What if my parents expect control over my adult decisions?
You can honour them by listening respectfully, but ultimately decisions must align with God’s will and personal responsibility.
Is financial support required to honour parents?
Not always, but helping when possible reflects love and gratitude, especially in times of need.
How can I honour parents who were not supportive or kind?
Through respectful communication, forgiveness, and prayer — while maintaining healthy boundaries.
Does honouring parents stop after they pass away?
No. You can continue honouring them by preserving their memory and living out their values.