IT’S RIGHT TO RESPECT

by Pastor Tom

“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all.” -Titus 3:1-2

I can remember coming home from school one day, enraged that I had received detention for an entire week for something I had not done. I argued my case with Dad, urging him to go to school and have a little sit-down with that poor excuse for a teacher who had so violated my rights and dealt me such an injustice. Finally, Dad agreed to miss a couple hours of work the next day and go speak with the teacher on my behalf. I was elated. Yep, the Old Man would make quick work of that guy, and I could forget about a week of detention.

The next evening, I eagerly waited for Dad to arrive home from work. I wanted all the details. I wanted to hear just how that teacher had been put in his place. Finally, Dad showed up. “Well, Pappy, did you talk to that teacher,” I asked. “I certainly did, son,” he said, “and I’m completely convinced that you were indeed innocent.” I said, “Hey, that’s great! Now I won’t have to take a week’s detention.” And then, Dad said, “No, son, you won’t have to take a week’s detention.

Now, you’re going to have two week’s detention.” Needless to say, I was a bit confused. “But Dad,” I protested, “you just said you knew that I didn’t do what I was accused of doing!” “That’s right,” he said, “but you didn’t tell me the whole story. During your encounter with that teacher, you were rude. You talked back. You were disrespectful. You failed to conduct yourself in a manner that acknowledged the teacher’s authority. Even though the teacher may have been wrong, he was still the teacher, and you were still the student. The moment you thought your rights came before your responsibilities, you lost them. In the morning, you’ll go apologize to the teacher, and you’ll take the detention and feel darned lucky that it’s not any worse.”

I didn’t like it one bit. Now, I had two weeks of detention for something I hadn’t done. I had already told all my friends how my Dad was going to come to school and set that teacher straight. This whole thing had gone terribly wrong.

Well, the next morning I went and apologized to the teacher. Surprisingly, it was a pretty good encounter. Eventually, I ended up in one of his classes. He turned out to be a great teacher. And, I must say, this whole episode turned out to be, for me, a pretty good lesson on the importance of respect and courtesy.

I am praying for all the students and teachers who are just beginning another school year. I pray patience and wisdom for the teachers. I pray an eagerness to learn for all the students. And I pray that all of us will know as much as my Dad knew about honoring and respecting those who have been called to teach.