The Parents’ Sins

© March 08, 2010

Richard O. Harris

Growing up I often heard the parents’ sins became the child’s debt

And I can truthfully say my parents debt has been repaid

Not by me, at least not me alone, but by two daughters and six sons

Who have given all they gave to see their mom and dad to heaven’s gate.

I am not such a lofty man, to take credit for this plan

Our parents saw we knew our actions had results and loved us still 

And as siblings even now we disagree a lot but somehow find a way

To let our love for each be known but by our actions it is shown

None of us can hide it even in the light of day when sun is so bright

We continue on our paths holding fast to examples our parents made

Treating others with kindness, love, and even faith

Hoping all the while for that next life.

What seems so strange to me as I ponder life’s mysteries

Is how we want to be together eternally

Yet can never find time to meet today

Unless a tragedy comes our way

Still, since now the debt of our parents’ sins has been fully repaid

We can now begin to put some effort toward our own sinful debts

So those we leave behind will not have to struggle so much at that time

We too leave this earthly place and take our chance with God’s grace.

I guess what I have tried to say without letting out this way

Is I have always loved them all even when I did not like their actions 

And it has taken me this long to understand that simple fact

Since now it stirs inside of me so many memories and emotions

My parents were the best they knew how to be and loved us all

Their love of God and His Son they passed on to each of us too

And now I know my parents’ sin was not against God or other men

Their sin was loving us enough to let us hate even them

With this they left a seed fallen in the furrow with the weeds

But it has finally grown and born the fruit that was meant to be

Now the debt for their sins has been repaid time and again

For all eight of us have born the fruits that came from that seed.