Honoring your parents is a command for children of all ages. There is no exception clause in this command that exempts the adult child from responsibility. I can almost sense you starting to squirm in your seat. Honoring your parents seems risky.
Let me take a few moments to tell you what honoring your parents is, and what it isn't.
Honoring your parents does not mean endorsing irresponsibility or sin. It is not a denial of what they have done wrong as parents. It does not mean you flatter them by "emotionally stuffing" the mistakes they've made or denying the emotional or even the physical pain they may have caused you.
For an adult child, honoring your parents will not place you back under their authority. It does not give them access to manipulate you. It doesn't mean crawling back into the cradle and becoming a helpless child again.
Honoring your parents means choosing to place great value on your relationship with them.
Honoring your parents means taking the initiative to improve the relationship.
Honoring your parents means obeying them until you establish yourself as an adult.
Honoring your parents means recognizing what they've done right in your life.
Honoring your parents means recognizing the sacrifices they have made for you.
Honoring your parents means praising them for the legacy they are passing on to you.
Honoring your parents means seeing them through the eyes of Christ, with understanding and compassion.
Honoring your parents means forgiving them as Christ has forgiven you.
It is an attitude accompanied by actions that say to your parents, "You are worthy. You have value. You are the person God sovereignly placed in my life."
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