5. We should, furthermore, show the respect we owe our parents by _obeying them._ We should do what they tell us, carry out their commands, and do it without a murmur, willingly, quickly, fully, and gladly. In this manner you, at your age, can best prove that you honor your parents. _"Children, obey your parents in all, things; for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord."_ Col. 3,20. _"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old."_ Prov. 23,22. 6. _"We should hold them in love and esteem."_ God has given us our parents as a most precious gift. Through them our heavenly Father bestows upon us numberless other gifts and blessings. Our parents provide for us; they give us all we need in this life; they shelter and protect us. They try to lead us to our Savior by teaching us the Word of God, by sending us to a Christian school. They bring us up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6,4. Should we not love and esteem them as a precious gift of God? Should we not thank Him with all our heart, thank Him by doing His will in regard to our parents? Do not forget: _We honor our parents because we fear and love God, who has given us this most precious gift._ 7. Our Catechism not only says that we should honor our parents, but it adds the word _"masters."_ God has placed other persons besides our parents over us, in _home, school, and state._ Our parents are also those who take our parents place, _who take care of us and protect us_ if our parents are dead or otherwise unable to take care of us. God has placed over us our _teachers_ in our schools, who instruct us in our parents stead. There are many persons in our country, in our cities and towns, who have been placed above us, such as the President of the United States, the governor of our State, the mayor of our city, etc. It is God who has placed also these rulers over us. He commands us to hold all these in honor and esteem, to serve and obey them in all things in which He has placed them over us. 8. God has added to the Fourth Commandment a _special promise: "Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."_ Eph. 6,2.3. This shows how well-pleasing it is unto God if we keep this commandment, if we honor and love our parents and masters. Our gracious Lord will abundantly reward all children who honor their parents and masters, and do it in the fear and love of God. He will bless them here on earth in a way which is good for them, and He will bless and reward them more abundantly in heaven. The most beautiful example of the fulfilment of this commandment is our _Lord Himself,_ of whom we read: _"And He went down with them_ [His lowly parents], _and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them."_ Luke 2,51. He even remembered His mother when He was nailed to the cross. John 19,26.27. REMEMBER:--