Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying the day and also enjoying others. This morning I made a new chicken dish and went to my exercise class. Soon I am going to Aldi’s and tonight is Bible Study.  
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  What does it mean to honor all people? I read today from I Peter 2:17(ESV), “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” We can often praise others but it doesn’t necessarily mean we respect and honor them and it may even be insincere.  To honor others is much more for it is to treat them as we would like to be treated ourselves, and to accept the real person that they are.
  Perhaps we all have had times when we felt honored in some special way. We were recognized for who we are in our own uniqueness and appreciated. It is a good feeling and there is no pretense, we can just be ourselves.
   I am learning more from Michael Casey’s book on tools for good living. I had not thought much about the beautiful gift of honoring others and to be honored. He says to honor others is to value them, to welcome them into our life; it is to really listen to them and give them priority and respect.
   But those who have thought themselves slighted oftenget wounded and may do acts of violence. The mass shooter of many people may be someone who never felt he fit in, was belittled and not valued by others. Maybe that contentious person at work is one who feels excluded and therefore becomes demanding and hard to work with. If we feel good about who we are, it is easier to honor others and treat them well.
   In our churches and in our homes and communities everyone needs to feel respected and honored. We are not to rob others of their dignity so we will feel better about ourselves, but to appreciate how God has made each person and to respect their uniqueness.  Wouldn’t it be a dull world if we were all alike? I love bouquets of wild flowers and it is such a reminder to me of the variation of people and how each one adds something special and unique to the whole bouquet. Even the smallest flower adds color and beauty.
   Casey writes that if we treated others as we would like to be treated we wouldn’t have a culture of external markers of race, gender, age etc but see others as like ourselves.
  Let us be willing to change our thinking and practice the golden rule, giving honor to others and welcoming them with mutual respect.
  Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you see the value of others and appreciate their uniqueness.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy