From The Desk Of Gary Miller

Respect

Respect is a very interesting topic when I was younger it was very important respect your elders respect strangers get up and give someone your seat, respect it was drilled into us from a very early age respect your teachers, respect the police officers respect your parents. Nowadays it seems that no one is respecting anyone and anything goes there’s no need for respect and if you expect it then your looked at as old and out of touch.

Well let’s look at the definition of the word respect, when I Googled it this is what It told me:

re·spect 

/riˈspekt/

Noun

A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

Verb

Admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

Synonyms

noun.     regard - esteem - reverence - deference - consideration

verb.      honour - honor - esteem - regard - venerate – revere

Not being completely satisfied with the traditional definition I found the urban dictionary and it gave me their definition let’s check it out:

It means valuing each others points of views. It means being open to being wrong. It means accepting people as they are. It means not dumping on someone because you're having a bad day. It means being polite and kind always, because being kind to people is not negotiable. It means not dissing people because they're different to you. It means not gossiping about people or spreading lies.

We are lacking respect for each other.

(Warning In some definitions The urban dictionary contains offensive language)

So now we can see the contrast between the generations and the expectations of the generations are not that different. When I began this journey I anticipated that there was going to be a bigger difference but after studying this closer I began to realize that even though we were using different words the meanings behind the words are really not that much different so it makes me ponder – I’m looking at the urban definition and the part that says valuing others points and when I look at the traditional definition under synonyms I see several things that match what they’re saying, honor, esteem, regard, consideration. Then moving on to the next part of the urban definition it means being open to being wrong – and I see is in the traditional definition under the noun it states a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elected by their abilities, qualities, or achievements, which could be understood to be the same. Going on to the next part of the urban definition it states not dumping on someone because you’re having a bad day, on the traditional definition that’s summed up in the word regard. Going back to the urban dictionary to the next part polite and always kind in the traditional dictionary definition that’s honor and esteem, you see definitions of words change and some people don’t understand the definition of the word as other people understand the definition so when we say honor and esteem some understand that differently so the definitions of those words can change and sometimes confusion can arise. The next part in the urban dictionary says it means not Dissing people because they’re different than you and the traditional definition that means regard consideration esteem honor, the traditional dictionary tells us that’s kind of the same thing it’s honor esteem regard consideration and have a deep admiration for your fellow man so a lot of it is just understanding the difference in the definitions of the meaning of words because the definition of words change from generation to generation and communication and being able to understand each other and not assume that the other person knows what someone thinking. We have to make sure that we live a life with no regrets. And that means that we respect ourselves we respect other people and we respect the things that God entrusted us with. Then we will live peaceably and be happy and have peace no matter what happens around us. We can’t control what happens around us the only thing we can do is control how we react to it and when we are at peace with God and at peace with the people around us and at peace with ourselves then nothing that the can shake us that’s when we have armor on. Having done all then Stand and Stand Therefore! with respect For God, Others and Our Self. God’s definition of respect do right love mercy – dig into the word and find out what things God loves and what things he hates I could tell you that then it would be like handing it to you and would mean very little but if you dig for it then you have to do a little bit of work and you remember it and you have value in it a little more importance will be placed on, anything that’s worth getting is worth working for. So love mercy and put on your armor and having done all then stand and stand therefore with Respect and you have nothing to fear Christ Jesus is coming in the clouds saying come on up here and we all hope to hear Him say “well done good and faithful servants”.

Shalom,

Gary Miller

2.27.2013