Its Good To Go Back To The Old Time Way!

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters. I Timothy 5:1-2


These words penned by the Apostle Paul to young Timothy are priceless! In this day and age we have moved so far away from teaching our children respect for their elders as well as showing respect to one another. It appalls me to hear how some speak to and treat the elderly and the disdain and disregard children have for them. We seem to have moved away from the "old way" of doing things in this area because I guess some feel that they have "arrived" and have no need to show respect.

I hear how children speak to their parents today and it breaks my heart. There seems to be a lack of boundaries or rather clear lines of who the parent is and who the child is. When I was growing up, we were taught to say either "yes ma'am and yes sir" or even just, yes instead of uh-huh and yep to an adult. We understood that they were to be respected because they were elders. Nowadays, I see how people just let their kids say whatever they feel. There are even some who laugh at their children when they are disrespectful because they think its cute or that the child has learned to speak his mind.

I just want to encourage us all to be more mindful of our respect for one another and those who are elderly. I encourage you to especially take time out of your day and do something special for one of your senior neighbors, friend, coworkers or church members. And in the unthinkable event that you hear or see a young person show disrespect, disdain or disregard for them, please stand up for them and help that youngster understand why they are wrong. Sometimes "its good to go back to the old time way."

I have committed to teaching my children as well as living it out before them, respect for others, especially our senior saints. I believe that as they see the behavior modeled before them, they will follow because children model more of what you do, not just what you say.