The Voice of Zion November 2024 - Home & Family Article --
Respect means holding something as important and to be honored. Respect is both how we treat others and why we treat others this way. Both of these aspects of respect are found in Scripture
The commandments tell us to honor and respect our parents; this includes elders. Further, we are instructed to love our neighbor; this also includes that honor and importance that we give to all of God’s creation. We wish to treat others with honor no matter who or what they appear to be. God made each person; each person has an undying soul and value before God.
In the following articles, you will read viewpoints about respect from a variety of people from the Alaska congregation.
Respect One Another
Brendan Johnson
As the years pass, I seem to recall less and less from my childhood. Vivid memories fade, and I can’t seem to imagine the memories that used to be clear pictures. It is almost as if some memories were a story about myself told to me by friends or family. At times I am not sure if I actually remember something or if my brain created the memory to fill in the story.
Then there are those memories that have compiled so many times throughout our life that they have been chiseled into our brain. The life lessons we have been taught. We don’t know where we remember it from, how it came about, or who taught it, we just know we will never forget it. It exists in your head whether you believe it or not. The Golden Rule is one of those memories: “Therefore all things ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matt. 7:12). Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.
We were taught that at a young age, whether from our parents or a school teacher or a mix of people. Maybe you heard it at Sunday school when caught poking fun at someone or you hurt someone’s feelings.
The original instruction comes from the Bible. As we read in Matthew, Jesus instructs us on how to treat others. In more understandable English, the NKJV says, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.”
The Bible’s instructions on the matter are clear, so why is it often hard to do this? One would assume that instruction we have been taught our whole life, from within God’s kingdom and from society, would be easy to follow. That is not the case, even though we all wholeheartedly believe it.
One problem often lies in our own attitude. When I don’t feel good about myself for any reason, it may be because I have sin on my conscience. I may find it difficult to respect others. How can you show respect to anyone else if you feel burdened or don’t respect yourself?
Perhaps, you can only respect others as much as you respect yourself. If you find yourself struggling, put your pride away. Talk to a believer you are close with; they will not judge you. You are not alone in your struggles. Put away sin. Keeping faith and a clean conscience, it is easier to again fulfill the God-given duty to treat all with respect.
Each Unique, Each Precious
Lindsey Haataja
When we wander outside among the trees and shrubs in the woods, we discover something intricate and amazing about God’s creation of nature: we never find two pieces of it exactly the same. No two leaves share the same veins, no two rivers follow the same path and no two clouds shape or move the same way. God made each part of His creation unique. This is also true of his children, and I found this important to remember when we were blessed with identical twins seven years ago.
Raising two babies, two toddlers and two boys that go through the same milestones is both challenging and rewarding. A challenge for me has been to not compare them to each other, and to not put one down because one twin is stronger in one area than the other.
One twin loves taking care of the babies and toddlers, loves insects, has a quiet voice, offers to help out often and loves to sing. The other twin has a loud voice, always wants to fix broken things in our home, never can decide what he wants for breakfast in the morning and loves all things winter. They are both a joy to have in our home in their unique way. God blesses all of us with different gifts, abilities, hobbies, ambitions, likes and struggles.
Despite differences, we are all children of God traveling home to heaven. We can work to practice the golden rule, and respect other children of God by speaking kindly, offering support and encouragement, appreciating people for who they are and giving thanks to God for creating everyone unique.
When God set out to form the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the acorns that fall off the trees and you and me, He created everything perfectly unique.
Children’s Perspective
Eli Kumpula, age 9
What does respect mean to you?
It means being nice, helping others and not being mean.
Who in your life do you respect?
My family and everybody.
Where did you first learn about respect?
At home, church and school.
Megan Edwards, age 12
What does respect mean to you?
Some words that came to mind are to be considerate and polite.
Who in your everyday life do you respect?
Elders, teachers and everyone. Everyone deserves respect
Where did you first learn about respect?
When I was young, at home, church and at school.
Reuban Huhta, age 8, and Malachi Huhta, age 10
What does respect mean to you?
Malachi: Respect means to be respectful to elders and respect the church because it’s God’s house.
Reuban: You should respect people’s stuff because it’s not yours.
Who in your everyday life do you respect?
Malachi: I have respect for my grandma and grandpa because they’re older and wiser than me. Also, God, because He is the Giver of life and made the world.
Reuban: I have respect for my parents because they teach me and take care of me.
Where did you first learn about respect?
We both learned about respect from Sunday school and parents.
Malachi: my gampy taught me about respect as well.
Respect
Adeline Bekkala
Respect is an important topic for everyone to consider. To respect someone or something is to admire, esteem, and recognize the worth of that subject. This world is created by God and He saw worth in everything He added to His creation. Therefore, while our human nature may find it difficult to see the worth of certain people or things, we may pray and strive to respect one another.
For most people, respect starts in the home. Children follow their parents’ example on how to show respect. They notice that their parents respect each other, their children, themselves and their own boundaries. And when they interact with others outside the home, children notice how their parents respect all neighbors, friends and the land around them.
Respect is also an attitude and behavior that can be learned through instruction and experience. A good habit or practice is to respect yourself by not participating in activities you’d prefer not to, despite the normalcy of the activity, or any peer pressure that occurs. Communication, empathy, boundaries and observation are all skills that may help us develop further respect for others.
While we may have respect in our minds and hearts, showing respect to others is another aspect to consider. It doesn’t take much effort to thank hosts, greet someone, and respect other’s property and facilities by cleaning up after yourself. As we think of the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12) and how it ties to respect, we acknowledge that we cannot control anybody in what they think, say, or do, but we can control our reaction to those things and when we react with respect, we are able keep Christian love amidst disagreements.
In our own weakness we may struggle and have doubts, we can help each other with the gospel and remember that every new day is another opportunity to try our best.
Discussion Questions
What does the Golden Rule teach us about respect? Whom should we respect in our daily lives?
How can we show respect and kindness to others, even when they are different from us?
How do we show respect for other people’s belongings and spaces?
Where and how were you taught to be respectful? How can we teach it to others?