It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence
those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.
For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves,
so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.
Fear God, and respect the king.
~1 Peter 2:13-17
Respect...what has happened to it? As a Chaplain and a Minister, I have duties that are celebratory and duties that are somber, and I get to observe how respect is played out in both instances. For example, I had the honor of conducting a funeral for a man who was, by all accounts, very respected. Yet, at the service people arrived dressed as though their day at the lake had been interrupted by having to attend this funeral.
Brace yourself, my inner 'Old Guy' is being released! When I was growing up, I was taught (painfully at times) that when one enters a building, men are to remove their hat and sunglasses. I was taught to stand when a lady comes to sit down at the table. I was taught that, even though we celebrate the life lived, funerals are serious enough to actually come fully clothed. I was taught to be the first to show respect to others. And most of all, I was taught to respect the flag of this country I have the privilege to inhabit.
We seem to have taken our "Land of the Free' to mean no one matters except ME! We don't show respect, we DEMAND respect to be shown to us. And respect for our nation's flag has become more of a joke than an actuality. Does anyone else see the problem?
I was taught "Respect is the gift we give that shows others who we are."
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