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| Mess? What mess? It's artistic expression. |
I chose the title because of my fabulous red tights featured (red = stop, get it? ;D ) and because it relates quite closely to today's topic:
Love does not dishonour others
When we get in a disagreement with someone, which is bound to happen every now and again, how many times do we let our mouth run away with us and say something we regret? (Guilty...) It's important to be patient and respectful when talking with others and to honour them. Paul puts it like this:
"Let each esteem each other better than themselves." (Philippians 2: 3)
This verse can be used in a number of contexts, particularly in loving others by putting their needs first. But it's the relationship between esteeming and honouring others that prompted my use of it. When we honour someone we show them respect. It doesn't mean we grovel at their feet or suck up to them but we choose to submit to them out of a healthy sense of respect. To esteem someone is to put them in high regard, to think well of them because you respect them, because you honour them.
Love honours others because when we love someone we respect them. Respecting them means listening when they're talking, accepting that they may have a different perspective and not belittling (being rude) them for it. This doesn't mean we have to agree with everything they say and blindly say "yes m'am, no m'am." In fact I think this dishonours them because it questions the integrity and potential worth of what they're saying. It's ok to disagree, to dissect each other's arguments and calmly and lovingly break down complicated issues. But remember to honour them because this is what it means to love one another.
Next time you find yourself in a debate or disagreement remember the red tights and "Stop! Wait a minute..." before blurting out the first thing that comes to mind.
