What does it
mean to you to be “discreet?” To be discreet is to give serious respect to
another’s privacy, considering our attention and thought to what we say and do.
It is also the ability to not bully people with our actions or personality.
This is a new characteristic that we know Jesus had. He was respectful and gave
his undivided attention to countless people—even some to whom no one else would
speak. Those who first come to my mind are the woman at the well (John 4), the
woman accused of adultery who was about to be stoned (John 8), and the tax
collectors Matthew or Levi (Luke 5) and Zaccheus (Luke 19), as well as the
leper that Jesus healed (Matthew 8). All of these people were outcasts—and yet
Jesus ministered to them in special ways. He didn’t ignore them or disregard
their needs. Neither did He call public attention to their predicament in
life—He just helped them deal with what was happening to them. He didn’t accuse
them or bully them into admitting they were sinners—He simply paid attention to
them, respecting them by showing no partiality, met their needs and taught them
about God. Can you see this quality in yourself or your children? Showing no
partiality and discreetly meeting the needs of others in your family,
neighborhood or community.
Training Tip – Have you ever noticed that people show respect to
those who respect them? Here’s an acrostic with some scripture to encourage
RESPECT, the basis of being discreet.
R – Regard others as more important
than yourself – Philippians 2:3
E – Encourage one another – 1 Thessalonians
5:11
S – Strengths - find your child’s
individual strengths – get to really know your child individually
P – Patience – Be patient with
all - 1 Thessalonians 5:14
E – Education - goal of our instruction
is love from a pure heart… 1 Timothy 1:5
C – Consistency – with discipline
and with the child – God does not show partiality – Romans 2:11
T – Train up a child in the way he
should go…Proverbs 22:6
Build your
child’s self-esteem so that they respect themselves. Respect them—don’t talk
down to them or say careless things about them in their presence (like “my
little devil” or “my uncontrollable child”). Guard your tongue. Respect
yourself and your children will be more likely to respect you, too. Respect is
an important issue in the development of healthy children.
Lord God, help us to be discreet and respectful to
those around us that they would see Jesus in us.
All
scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise
noted.
© 2013 by Mickey
M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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