honor

Leave a comment Posted on Business Sense, Character Corner, Daily Blogs

Under the radar 

I had a couple of friends in high school who were really good at serving in the shadows. 

This wasn’t a false attempt to be humble. 

This wasn’t a diminishing of their talents. 

They simply understood what it meant to be a servant. The motives of their hearts are still the purest I’ve ever seen. 

I noticed their actions–so did others–as thankless work was done with joy. It’s always convicted me of the pride that tries to creep up in my heart. 

I want a servant’s heart, but it can be difficult to cultivate in a media driven, rockstar culture. 

My earnest belief is that all work is good work. Giving certain jobs the title of “elite” is a dangerous practice. 

Doctors and janitors, lawyers and plumbers, businessmen and garbage collectors all deserve to be treated with respect. 

I try and praise the hard, thankless work as well as the more public, commendable tasks. 

Let’s focus our attention on honoring and encouraging each other in the workplace this week. 

A simple thank you can go a long way. 

And, while we’re at it, let’s be sneaky and serve under the radar too. 

2 Comments Posted on Character Corner, Family

Manners Matter

Yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir—These phrases have always been a part of my daily vocabulary as have the usual pleasantries of please and thank you. I was also taught that you put Ms. or Mr. In front of an adult’s name.

As a child, I cannot remember calling any adult by their first name only.

No one asked me if I wanted to be polite and respectful. It was demanded of me.

My me-maw taught me that adults, especially older adults, were to be treated with the highest level of respect. Not answering properly was an offence equal to interrupting a conversation. (And my family didn’t view corporal punishment as wrong either, so being rude meant some discomfort was coming my way.)

 Over the years, my use of yes ma’am and the like have made quite a few people uncomfortable.

“I’m not that old,” some would say, or “You don’t have to call me Mr. Bob. Just call me Bob.”

That’s where it got a little awkward. Who do I obey? That person? My parents? No wonder kids have been so confused over the years.

Adults demand to be treated as adults, for their commands to be instantly obeyed without question. Then they reprimand children for assigning honor to their role.

 Consequently, you have children who show no respect for authority and who believe they can call all the shots.

Who needs to listen and yield to those who are older when many parents are busy trying to wear skinny jeans and borrowing blouses from their teenaged daughter’s closet? (No one wants to admit they’re getting older.)

Once again, I’ve gone to the extreme in my use of examples. But I cannot understand how anyone who claims to be “all grown up” would take offence to being shown respect.