Don’t Let Others Speak Ugly To You

My Dad was really big on us speaking appropriately to our Mother. Once, at the age of 7 while living in our first house, I spoke curtly to my Mom. I do not remember what was said or how it was said but there is great remembrance of a strong voice from my Father saying from another part of the house, “I know you’re not speaking to your Mother that way!”  From that there were apologies  and play privileges lost for the day. That lesson was taught to me on that occasion by my Father. Speaking rudely or inappropriately to my Mother was not allowed and most importantly because she had worth, and was important.  My Father taught that important character lesson to me at my young impressionable age.

He would not allow me to speak ugly to my Mother. He was serious about this and over the years, I saw him honor her in many ways showing her value and importance to us (their 3 children)  as a person and as our Mother.

Each of us have worth and value and none of us should let other people speak wrongly to us or to those in our circle of influence. And if you notice, I said “should not let” because thinking back, if my Father had not stepped in, I may have continued that type of behavior and my thinking could have been skewed for the rest of my life thinking that I had a right to speak to another human being in that way. Looking back about that time, I wonder what my life may have been like had my Father not stepped in and changed my way of thinking.

5 Ways To Demand Respect

1. If you’re a mother or father, cause your children to speak respectfully to each parent. This is a must. It shows honor and respect from a mother to demand attentiveness from children to a father. It a shows care and love for a father to have children reminded to have respect for a mother.

2. Do not allow anyone to speak to you in a mean way. To stop this, you may need to say, “Do not speak to me that way because I have worth and value” or you might say, “That is completely not so and I will not accept those words.” Sometimes you must literally stop a person from saying things that are simply hurtful. You must speak truth and often you must remove yourself from the situation. And, sometimes it may take more than once to help a person understand that you will not tolerate meanness.

3. You yourself must respect others. It is important that you yourself are truthful, tactful and not being a bully in any way. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect unless they are not respectful themselves. If that is true of them, you must stop them from treating you in an unkind way. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke)

4. Think about how others feel. Yes, fact is important but adding the importance of value in the way we make others feel is also important. “People will forget what you said People will forget what you did But people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

5. Make it a point to uplift those in your circle of influence. Give positive words of praise in truth. Never fake how you feel but rather in love look for the best in someone. Remember “Mellie” (Melanie) of Gone With The Wind, she was always so kind and generous in her thoughts.

Most importantly, live for Jesus. If we will live out His love, we will do the Father’s will in loving those around us. (And just remember, we’ve all fallen short so when we do, we must ask God’s forgiveness and do better the next time.  “When we know better we do better”. Maya Angelou

Josie