Four times this week I’ve seen Facebook messages or tweets about young people failing to respect their elders. One post was from a 17-year-old who was sitting in a restaurant when a loud group of young people were asked by bothered adults to settle down—that’s when it started. This young lady said, “These high schoolers clearly weren’t taught by their parents how to respect adults.” Mom and Dad, are you and I teaching our kids how to respect adults? It starts in our home. Do we allow mouthy, smart-alecky comments directed at us? Stop that in its tracks at an early age, or your kids will be the ones disrespecting adults when they’re away from you. Remember the Scripture: “You who are younger, be subject to the elders….‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ ” (1 Peter 5:5, ESV).

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

Suggested Reading: 1 Timothy 5:1-2, 1 Peter 5:5