R-E-S-P-E-C-T...tell me what it means to you!

Three legged stool
I feel that respect is an attitude where in all circumstances, each person we interact with we honor and remember the "spark of uniqueness" in each one - and honor that spark in how they treated, spoken to, spoken of and interacted with. Respect calls us to the challenge of treating and interacting with everyone in a atmosphere of love, trust and respect. This is the three legged stool of relationships.

A Facebook friend of mine defines respect as:Reasonable Expectation Simple Pleasant Considerate Tolerance.... My rules in life 1. No expectations 2. No Pressure.
She challenged me to make my definition into an acrostic poem, so here's my attempt to make my thought into poetry of sorts. What is your definition of "respect"?

"The Three legged stool

There is a three legged stool we can't live without.
One leg is love, trust two and respect is three.
Without all three, relationships are impossible to be.
The spark of each life needs to connect and grow;
but only can happen when we sit,
face each other and on the three legged stool
and let all three legs show."

Trust, love and respect also are three legs that help our faith relationships to become more firmly established. The unique "spark" that is honored with living out respectful relationships was set by God. In treating each other well, we are showing our trust, love and respect for God as well.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. JOHN 15:5

All told, I really like how Aretha says it...

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Uphill idealist

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