Lessons learned...

What if the lessons we taught our children we followed ourselves?  How different would things be?

Don't call other people names.   I mean really....how many grown folks do we know that refer to other's in negative ways?  Too many.  How many times do we do it?  Especially if they don't agree with us?  Especially if we don't approve of their behavior. 

Use your manners.  When's the last time you let someone have the parking space you'd been eyeing up?  Or held open a door for someone.  Is please a part of your normal vocabulary?  Really thanked a cashier or bagger or waitress?  Not in a habit kind of way, but making eye contact and acknowleding their presence?

Don't be a follower.  Be a leader.  We don't have to do what everyone else is doing.  We don't have to be "yes men".  We can use our minds and experiences to form our own opinions.  If someone is heading down a dark path we can go a different way.  We can speak our minds.  We can stand up for ourselves and what is right.

Show respect.  Even if people disagree...even if they don't use their manners...even if they don't show respect....we can.  We might not respect someone's actions or choice...but as a human being we can show them respect.  We can respect property.  We can respect rules.  We can respect authority.  There are so many instances where we just don't show respect.  Can't park there?  Then don't park there.  Someone asks you to turn down your music?  Turn it down.  Someone older than you need a seat?  Stand up and make your kids stand up too.

Share.  We do miserably at this.  Time, energy, skills, money, resources, stuff.  We are a very selfish society.  We might not mind giving...but often only if it doesn't put us out or cost us anything.  Here's something that might make you stop and think.  Giving away your extra or leftovers is nice...but it's not sharing.  By definition alone.  Dividing and distributing what you have?  That's sharing.

Treat others the way you want to be treated.   I mean really, need I say more?

Say you're sorry.  If we hurt other people...we need to apologize.  Not in a hasty way..that often shows we don't really mean it and we just want them to stop being a baby.  But in a truly heartfelt and kind way, acknowledging that we messed up.

Forgive.  We must forgive.  It will eat us up inside if we don't.  The bitterness of unforgiveness will rear it's ugly head in so many ways.  Our hearts will harden and we can even become jaded and super sensitive.  We are forgiven by an amazing God so we must extend that forgiveness out to others.

Such simple lessons.  We expect our children to adhere to many of them.  Are we?

That's what  I got today.