I wish more people would enforce manners while in the company of others. We have basically taught "anything goes", in the company of other people. Manners or lack of them is a reflection of our attitude toward the people we are with. Our culture does not correct rudeness anymore, we simply let it slide, to solidify the narcissism that permeates our society.
LOL, I once took a young woman to lunch for her birthday. For the first 15 minutes we were at the table waiting for our meal after ordering, she was checking her cell phone, laughing at the texts and responding to them. I felt sort of left out.
Having felt insulted, disrespected and minimized, I waited until she looked up from the phone and told her that she had a choice, she can visit with those people on the phone or she can visit with me. I brought her out because I wanted to bless her on her birthday. She continued to do it a couple more times as though she was addicted to that phone.
I then informed her that if she chose those people on the phone to visit with, I was going to leave so that she could be alone with them. Thankfully she understood and put away her phone. We had a nice lunch together after that. Perhaps if everyone would teach about cell phone manners, we would have a new trend, putting away the phones or turning them off when in the company of others.
You know.....like in the old days when the phone was only at home and we didn't even know if someone had called until we got back home. In the early days we didn't even have answering machines, a person would have to call back later to catch us. We were free all day from the bother of a ringing phone unless it were important. 99% of what is being texted today is foolishness and completely unnecessary distraction from better things.
When we look all around the room while someone is talking to us, or check our cell phones continually while in another person's company, it is the same as saying "I would rather be with someone else other than you." It is also saying "you are of no interest to me."
Ignoring or minimizing others through lack of attention to them, is rude and arrogant. We show others what we think of them by our attention or lack of attention to them when in their company.
I know there will be those who read this who already know it, but there are so many who have never been taught manners, attentiveness to the needs of others or even how to bless another person.
When I am treated with disrespect and dishonor, my conclusion is that I can not be of help or blessing to them, they are not respecting me, so anything I say or do would be of no value to them. It is not likely I will spend more time with them later, if it is an habitual practice with them.
Let's not negate and minimize others through flippant disregard for them. God tells us to love one another, that means that the needs and feelings of others must come before our own.
Mark 12:31
"31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Luke 6:31
"31 Treat others the same way you want them to treat you."
Luke 6:35
"35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, [a]expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men."
Romans 13:10
"10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away."
1 John 4:7
"7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."
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