Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A Time for Blessings

Years ago parents taught children from an early age to respect their elders and to show respect for authorities. It didn’t matter if old man Frost kept a bottle of brandy in his tool box, young ones and semi-young ones called him sir and said good morning with respect. And if the ranch hands came into the café smelling like cattle dip and Smear 62, everyone just acted as if the roses were blooming indoors.

It is not without reason that parents taught such respect. Children and parents alike spoke and acted respectfully to everyone from the post master to the waitress at the café. In small towns, everyone knew everyone else, but the same manners went with them to the cities, and eventually overseas when the boys went off to wars.

Respect for others is an outgrowth of self-respect. Knowing that we answer to a higher authority on an equal basis with others can help us keep life and relationships in perspective. Today the nation has a new president as its leader. In the same manner as our elders taught us, we should be teaching our children to be respectful of our leaders.

In Numbers 6:23–26, God instructed Moses that Aaron and his sons were to bless the Israelites in this way: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

A president is not a priest, but he must seek peace and pursue it diligently for those he leads. God bless this nation.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just have to say, "Amen." Well-said!

May a special blessing be granted you for your eloquent words.

Thanks.

Carla said...

Well put! Respect for others is something I think our new president will model consistently, and I hope other nations will see it as genuine.

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Great post, Nancy. And I think talk show hosts like Jay Leno and others should not be allowed to make fun of our leaders. I know the Constitution gives us certain rights, but to me it's crude to joke about the president or other officials. My 2 cents.
Beverly