Is a wife moving back in part-time (several days and nights per week) with her parents to provide care a violation of Ephesians 5:31? Her elderly parents will not accept paid help (strangers) in their home even though they can afford it and the arrangement could foreseeably be for months or possibly a couple of years. Both parents need round-the-clock care. The other option would be a nursing home. One parent doesn’t even see that they have a need and has lost the ability to reason.<\/p>\n
Thank you.<\/p>\n\t
What you are trying to do is pit two commands against each other. It is true that a wife has obligations to care for her husband and a husband has obligations to care for his wife. It is equally true that a son or daughter has obligations to his or her parent. Both commands are important. Therefore, ways to accomplish both commands should be sought.<\/p>\n
I’ve known situations where elderly parents have moved in with one of their children. I’ve known situations where a child’s family moved in with his parents to take care of them. These are usually the better solutions because loved ones and familiar situations remain and bring comfort.<\/p>\n
Sometimes skilled care is needed that is beyond what the child can provide and in-home care or a nursing home is required. This is less ideal because what is familiar is removed, but the best of a poor situation is still sought.<\/p>\n
Therefore, seek out ways that all your obligations can be accomplished even though some might not result in ideal solutions for an individual item.<\/p>\n\t
Thank you for your response. I appreciate the work you do to answer questions scripturally.<\/p>\n
I understand what you mean about trying to find a solution that may not be ideal in all aspects but is the best considering all the obligations. Moving in on a trial basis to see if I can even manage the situation first before I make significant life changes like giving up my job to make it work may be the best route.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: Is a wife moving back in part-time (several days and nights per week) with her parents to provide care a violation of Ephesians 5:31? Her elderly parents will not accept paid help (strangers) in their home even though they can afford it and the arrangement could foreseeably be for months or possibly a couple…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[550,64],"class_list":["post-60874","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-honor-your-parents","tag-marriage"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4120,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-a-christians-responsibility-to-his-parents\/","url_meta":{"origin":60874,"position":0},"title":"What is a Christian’s responsibility to his parents?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 15, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I have read your many articles regarding children obeying their parents. What is in the Scripture for parents to obey or respect their children? For example, I have been married for nearly 30 years and now my mother-in-law has moved in. She is in her seventies and in good\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41960,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-deal-with-my-boyfriends-parents-if-we-get-married\/","url_meta":{"origin":60874,"position":1},"title":"How do I deal with my boyfriend’s parents if we get married?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good morning, I have a question regarding my boyfriend and me and his parents. Both his parents have gotten divorced and remarried. His mother and her husband still attend worship. I don't think his father does. We are a part of the Lord's church. 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