Following the command to be holy, the first commandment is to honor your mother and father. As I reflected on what it means to honor one’s parents, I thought perhaps it is about putting their minds at ease. While giving them more allowance and showing them your success as a child is good, I realized that alleviating their worries and concerns should come first.

Recently, an accident caused by an unreasonable delivery schedule worried my family and parents. As I calculated how many side dishes I’d need to deliver or how much furniture I’d have to move to cover the high repair costs, I suddenly let go of that thought. It felt like rushing headlong and stumbling—I’d forgotten I’m still a novice, having only recently started my own business. I resolve to steadily build up my business performance again and strive not to cause my parents and family any worry.

Still, today’s side dish orders increased a bit.

You shall speak to the entire assembly of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. Each of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep My Sabbaths; I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 19:2-3