Reb Yehoshua said, "There is something I have to speak with you about."
"Speak," Nanas said.
Reb Yehoshua said, "Tell me your deeds. What do you do?"
Nanas replied, "My master, I’m a butcher. My mother and father are old, and they can't stand. So every morning I dress them, feed them, and wash them with my hands."
Reb Yehoshua stood up and kissed him on his head. Then, he said, "My son, נעים ומה טוב מה ,גורלך ואשרי אשריך, you are fortunate and fortunate is your lot... And I am fortunate that I will merit being your neighbor in Gan Eden."
We see that for honoring parents, one can earn a reward equal to the reward of a holy tana. The reward is enormous.
Reb Yochanan Dovid Solomon studied with Reb Yisrael Singer the halachos of kibud av v'em, and they went to the Chazon Ish to discuss the halachos. During the conversation, the surprising words of Reb Yochanan came up (Kiddushin 31:) "Fortunate is the person who [was adopted], and never saw his parents." Rashi explains, "This is because it is impossible [to keep this mitzvah properly and] to honor one's parents as one should."
The Chazon Ish replied, "Fortunate are those who did see their parents." Apparently, he meant that even if he won't be able to honor his parents as much as he should, the merit of kibud av v'em is so great that it is worthwhile for whatever kibud av v'em he does perform.
Once, the Chofetz Chaim zt'l came to Vilna, and many people came to see him and to receive his brachos. Reb Eliyahu Klor z'l, who learned in Reb Shlomo Heiman's zt'l yeshiva in Vilna, wanted to go with his friends from yeshiva to greet the Chofetz Chaim, but his father told him not to go. The father explained, "You're weak, and many people will be there. Perhaps there will be some pushing and shoving, and I'm afraid you will get hurt."
Eighty bachurim from the yeshiva went to the Chofetz Chaim, and they returned so happy because they received a brachah for long life.
Reb Eliyahu Dov was upset that he lost out on this opportunity. At that time, he wrote down the names of all the bachurim of the yeshiva who went to the Chofetz Chaim.
When Reb Eliyahu Dov was ninety-five years old, he said to his grandson, "Today, the last person from my yeshiva who went to the Chofetz Chaim to receive a brachah for long life was niftar. Only I remained, and I'm still healthy. I walk without a walker, and I don't need eyeglasses. This is the reward I received from the Torah, that blesses those who honor their parents with a long life."
