Love Is Not Rude

 

Continuing through 1 Corinthians 13.....

Love is patient....kind...not envious...does not parade itself....is not arrogant or puffed up and love does not behave rudely...

I like to examine words by using Websters 1828 dictionary. I highly recommend this dictionary to bring words to life.

Rude: artless, harsh, ignorant, impetuous, untaught

Another dictionary defines rude as....not showing respect, especially to those who are older or in authority. Being discourteous, impolite or unrefined.

I recognize some of that in our world today. How about you?

I think we not only recognize rudeness as a norm in our society, I would actually say we are inundated with rudeness.

Christian love does not act unbecomingly. 

We don't seek to cause problems or belittle others as believers.

A rude person is making a clear statement that life is "all about me." 

Rudeness is sadly becoming commonplace.

Our society once taught good manners to children early in their training. We understood that polite and courteous interaction with others was essential to healthy relationships.

I like sharing my fond memories of the days in my one room school house as a girl. They are sweet memories I hold dear in my heart.

The school was called Mount Pleasant, and to me it truly was a pleasant little place.

I recall how nice children were back in that little cozy school.

It never occurred to any of us children to speak out of place or to fight or bicker with one another, and certainly not to argue with our teacher dear Mrs. Mildred Cogburn.

The way we interacted at school was an extension of our manners at home.

It may sound unbelievable to some today, but I can honestly say that I never observed one child in my youth ever speaking out of line to a parent or to any adult. 

We somehow knew it would not be to our benefit to have an in-your-face attitude to any adult. 

We knew swift action on the part of adults would be unpleasant and something not to be repeated.

Once a child has learned not to disobey or disrespect parents, they generally don't have to keep relearning this as they go into the world. They have been properly trained in youth to act courteously to others.

It is my prayer that as a nation we return to God, yet I realize that it has taken us a long time to reach this level of corruption and until we determine in our own hearts to return to God and His plans we are not going to have a nation under God.

May we each examine our own hearts.

May it not be too late....