A wise son makes a glad father, but
a foolish man has no respect for his mother.
Proverbs 15:20
Families thrive on respect. People thrive on honor, appreciation, courtesy, and favor. For men, it’s one of our highest values. Even for women, it’s one of the ways in which we spell, “love.”
If you want a simple set of goals and rules for your home, try these …
· Kindness is king.
· Sarcasm is scorned.
· Courtesy must become common.
· Thankfulness trumps complaint.
· Helpfulness is celebrated.
If you’ve ever dealt 24/7 with a two-year-old, you know that these traits are not natural. “We are by nature,” as the old confession says, “sinful and unclean.” Selfish – that’s who we really are at heart.
So if we want peace and joy in our heart, we must actively train our children in respect. AND we must marshal the selfishness in our hearts.
One of Mary Louise’ and my favorite takeaways from the great book “Love and Respect,” was the line, “Start assuming the best of each other.”
When I’m at my worst, I tend to assume the worst in my spouse and in others. We all do. But when I start assuming the best, I hear their heart (and their fears and frustrations) rather than any kind of intent to disrespect.
In Christ’s Love,
a guy who wants to sing
like Aretha Franklin …
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
No comments:
Post a Comment