Next time you're in line at a bank, movie theater, snack bar, or fast food restaurant, listen to how people relate to one another. I'll have a hamburger, large fries and a root beer. We relate to one another more as objects than as persons made in the image of God. Maybe when we don't relate to God with reverence, we forget to treat one another with reverence, too. The gift of reverence inclines us to honor and respect God and others, no matter who they are or whether we know them or not.
Human beings deserve respect no matter what their opinions on con troversial issues.
The gift of reverence inclines men to respect women and women to respect men. It inclines parents to respect their children and children to respect their parents. In fact, whenever we relate to one another with reverence, God is there. Come, Holy Spirit, renew in us your gift of reverence that we might treat one another with honor and respect. In our homes, help us to be respectful toward one another.