Who Put the Vinegar in the Salt?
Don't Get No Respect Nowhere Nohow
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matthew 5:13 NIV).
Aretha Franklin sings her lament, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”
Everybody wants it, but few are willing to give it.
Michelle wanted to treat her children to breakfast at McDonalds. Just as they sat to eat, loud foul language filtered over their heads. No, the source was not ill-behaved teenagers. Behind her sat several elderly men who'd met for coffee.
Michelle approached them. “Excuse me, but do you realize that you’re swearing and I have my young children with me? They can hear you.”
One of the men scowled. “Hey, lady. They hear a lot worse on the school bus.”
“Maybe so, but those are children. You’re supposed to be the grown ups.”
Frustrated with their disrespect to her and to her children, she left.
Sometimes the only difference between a grownup and a child is height.
A group of school professionals have asked other school districts in their state to ban together to bring the concept of respect back into the school system. Inner city? No. These complaints are coming from affluent residential areas. Principals and administrators are concerned because too many teachers are quitting, citing unmanageable classrooms as the most prevalent reasons. Children simply have no concept of respect for other children let alone adults. The consequence? Our schools are failing, and our country is losing its educational edge.
On their website, Nikalodeon Channel advises parents that the most effective way to teach children respect is to be respectful themselves. Parents are reminded that one can disagree with another’s point of view without denigrating the person. If parents call people names, swear at others, belittle those who are different, children are certain to mimic what they hear and see.
Christians are quick to blame the lack of prayer in the school system. They have become hostile and angry at a world that does not share their values. But are their actions those that exemplify respect? “Well they don’t respect us,” many believers shout from the height of their anger and what they perceive as injustice.
Two children were seated at the table. The older child complained that the younger child kept putting his elbows on the table. He complained to his mother, insisting the mother reprimand his little sister for her poor manners. Then he picked up his bowl and slurped the soup down like drinking from a glass.
Unfortunately, we fail to give respect to others feeling that we are justified for our lack of example because others do not show us respect first. We, who have been provided knowledge and truth through God’s grace, find extending that Grace beyond ourselves much too bitter a pill to swallow. Christ’s respect for us held no preconditions. But, if we are no different than those who do not claim to know Christ, why would anyone want to?
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8 NIV).
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