[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Saturday, May 24, 2014

[Paul via Faith-talk]

Hello and good day to you all.  I trust that everything is going well for you, no matter what time of day it is or even day of the week, be it Saturday or Sunday.

Some years ago Carole Knowlton wrote an article entitled "Right Living" that I'd like to share with you today.  I may have done so in the past, but can't remember.  Anyway this article is rendered as follows:

William W
. Orr defined manners as doing the correct thing at the right time, following established rules of social conduct, having good behavior and showing approved deportment on all occasions ("Christians Should Have Good Manners, Too!," Scripture Press).  He called the Bible the most outstanding book on manners.  It is the authority on right living.

Having manners can be described as being sensitive to the needs of others.  Situations that could prove embarrassing or dangerous can be prevented if we keep our eyes open.

The first law of manners is appreciation.  Saying "thank you" is common courtesy.  It should be heard often in the Christian home.  We cannot expect children to use it if they do not hear it at home.

Recently, a little boy was playing ball when the ball rolled into the street.  He stood at the side of the road with his ball mitt, not knowing what to do.  My husband maneuvered the car so that I could open the passenger door, grab the ball, and throw it to the child.  The boy smiled, got the ball, and said, "Thank you very much."

Good manners can be described as kindness.  My sister got me a plaque that reads, "How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it." Our days are made up of many small occurrences.  Whether a person's hands are full or empty as he is approaching a door that you are leaving or entering, hold it a little longer for that person and smile.  He may or may not be grateful, but you have extended good manners.  We are given many opportunities to serve others.  We need to look for those opportunities and act on them.

Manners, like charity, begin at home.  Sometimes it is easier to treat strangers better than we do those we live with on a daily basis.  That does not mean we are not expected to show kindness to our family members even if they do know us intimately and we cannot hide our weaknesses from them.

When I was a child in Sunday school class, my teacher gave me a plaque that showed a girl being kind to an animal.  I can still envision the silhouette encased in glass hanging on my bedroom wall.  It demonstrated the kindness spoken of in Ephesians 4:32.  The Bible is the most outstanding book on manners.  It encourages appreciation, courtesy, and kindness.  Read it!

And there you have it for today.  Remember that tomorrow is the weekly Bible game, so get prepared.  Because I'm going out for the greater part of the afternoon, and depending on when I return home from church, this may not be presented at its usual time.  But rest assured that it will, God willing.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow the weekly Bible game mentioned above will be presented.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul