Romans 12:10: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

When my two brothers and I were young, our widowed mother insisted that we refer to adults as “Ma’am” or “Sir.” Should we ignore that rule, we would be the recipient of her raised eyebrow, a look for which I was the intended target on multiple occasions. Years later, when I taught in the Texas school system, any “yes” or “no” always was followed by “ma’am.” Always! Imagine my shock when I began teaching in Fort Scott and, on day one, asked a question and was told “Yep.” I almost hyperventilated.

Today, Respect is in short supply. Oh, there are positions—such as the military– that insist on it, but rarely do we see it in action unless it is used to accomplish personal goals.

Dave, my husband, receives daily requests for autographs because of his career in professional baseball. Many times, the same person impersonally sends baseball cards on different dates and writes a simple “Please sign these and return them in the SASE.” One person has sent the same, two-page, hand-written letter at least ten times, but yesterday Dave’s baseball card was a photocopied one that he had signed months ago, only this time the sender tried to erase Dave’s ink signature and asked him to sign over it. Seriously bizarre.

A few days ago, Dave received the most respectful request for an autograph he remembers ever receiving. Hand-written front and back, “Evan” shared that when he grew up, he and his friends played baseball whenever they could, and when Dave became famous for throwing his high curve, “the LaLob,” the group of boys spent hours trying to duplicate the pitch. But then he shared a story about his desire to teach his sons the thrills that come from playing sports and obtaining autographs. The first baseball card he handed his son, the youngster ran his finger across it, thinking it to be a digital screen that would change as he rubbed it. The father realized that this might take more work than he had anticipated.

Evan wrote about a time our son Adam was rehabbing with a minor league Atlanta Braves’ team where the writer and his family were living. Typically, he said, big leaguers who were there to rehab scamper out of the stadium to awaiting cars following those games, but Adam remained behind to sign over 100 autographs, even staying for some stragglers to find pens and paper. Evan thanked Dave for raising such a respectful man who had stayed humble. (Inexplicably, Dave was given all the credit. An oversight, I’m sure.)

Evan took the time to make his letter personal, and yes, I realize there was something in it for him, but he could have done a lot less and received the same autograph.

We respect others when we listen to them, affirm them, defer to them, are polite to them and thank them.

I try to do those things but know I have much room for improvement.

John 6:3-5 demonstrates how seriously Jesus takes a lack of respect. Jesus is being berated for being a nobody. “Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” In other words, “We know this man’s family. Not exactly upper crust. And his career as a handyman certainly doesn’t warrant any accolades.” Then Jesus speaks to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” So, except for a few minor miracles, Jesus “could not perform any miracles there.” Wow! Because the crowd showed Jesus no respect, he was unable to bless them.

How a few kind words could have made a difference!

As we go about our week, let us show everyone we meet they are valued, even if there is nothing in it for us.