Not sure where I picked this up. I mean, I know Mom and Dad taught this, but I don’t remember a specific instance. It was just always there. Treat others with respect and care before God. And I saw them live it out beautifully, very beautifully.
I remember getting spanked for teasing a poorer girl in our town about cooties. Mom showed me her “disapproval” on that one.
We were around African-Americans very little growing up, but we would not dare use a racial slur or display any disrespect. That is if you valued a pain-free backside.
So with this as a background. . .my other friend’s comment surprised me.
“You aren’t going, are you?” He was referring to my other new friend Phillip’s birthday party.
I was just beginning the seventh grade. We had recently moved to the area, and I had several new friends.
Phillip invited me to his birthday party, and, of course, I wanted to go.
Then my other friend’s question: “You aren’t going, are you?” As in Phillip is poor and not popular and you don’t want to be associated with that, do you?
Sure I did. Mom and Dad wouldn’t have it any other way.
(Philippians 2:3-4) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; (4) do not {merely} look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
