Manners.....what a concept? It seems like something we used to take for granted, something everyone seemed to have ingrained into our early years from the time we could speak. "Don't forget to say please and thank you" we would say to our children and also heard from our own parents. What prompted this dialogue on manners you say? Well, I'll tell you a story that happened to me today and I just can't ignore it.
I was running errands in town this morning and stopped by my favorite store: Barnes and Noble. If you know me, you know I LOVE BOOKS! While browsing the shelves and relaxing and enjoying myself, a woman passed right in front of me and the bookshelf. Slowly, sauntering her way into my line of vision, I was appalled. Excuse me? EXCUSE ME!!!!! I wanted to shout. How rude! And then I thought, does no one have manners any more? Not even the most basic of manners? Evidently they are getting fewer and far between. But then I thought, "have I done something similar before?" I would like to say absolutely not, but probably I have. Not as rude as what happened to me today because I try to say excuse me constantly in a public area, even when it's not my fault. But I have probably been guilty of some faux pas in the manners department.
Reading through the above little books, I am reminded how big a part manners played in early America. George Washington memorized those 110 rules of civility while he was 15 years old. No wonder he was considered the very image of gentlemanly behaviour. Some are out of use and quite comical, such as #13: "Kill no vermin as fleas, lice, ticks &c in the sight of others. If you see any filth or thick spittle, put your foot dexteriously upon it. If it be upon the clothes of your companion, Put it off privately, and if it be on your own clothes, return thanks to him who puts it off." Now I know we don't have to pick vermin from each other, but the point is be aware of how you look and help a companion if necessary. Glad he never went to Wal-Mart! But my very favorite rules are the first and the last that he memorized: #1"Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect to those that are present" and #110 "Labour to keep alive in your breast that little spark of Celestial fire called Conscience". Remember Jiminy Cricket? "Always let your conscience be your guide".
Our Heavenly Father put this little "Celestial Spark" in every one of us. If we would all strive to at least follow these two rules every day, what a better place this would be. These two rules remind me of the life that Jesus Christ exemplified for us every day and are what he calls the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and Love your neighbor as yourself. Who is our neighbor? In this day and age, it is not those who are just like us, believe just like us, look like us, or affiliated with our political party, but anyone we come into contact with.
My goal for 2020 is to try to obey those two commandments with all my heart and those two rules in George Washington's little book. Love and respect will go a long way and it begins with me!
I totally AGREE!! Great post!
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