LOVE WORKS DAILY 04/16/07 - THE VALUE OF COURTESY

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Apr 16, 2007, 6:49:59 PM4/16/07
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LOVE WORKS DAILY 04/16/07 - THE VALUE OF COURTESY
 

In this month of new beginnings, and blooming
and blossoming, I wish you all the best of Love!
 
 
INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)
 

Today, we too rarely practice good manners...
 When we neglect to require our children to say
"thank you" when someone gives them a gift or does
 something for them, we are raising ungrateful
children who are highly unlikely to be happy.
 
- Zig Ziglar
 
 
 
 
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)
 
I always get a warm feeling when one of my youngest
kids says "Can we eat now?"
 
This is because I rarely feed them,  and they know never to
ask me for food until I have eaten everything I want first.
 
Ok....do you really believe that???
 
Actually,  Our family has always made it a habit to eat our dinner
meal together.
 
Remember when families did that?
 
Everyone sat down at the same time, said grace, and ate
(the same food) together?
 
No?
 
Thought it was just on TV?
 
It was how I was raised, and it is how I raise my kids....
 
It is one time that we can be together, and share time, for certain
during the day.
 
So one of the kids will ask...."Can we eat now?"
 
Nope.  Mom's not at the table yet.
 
Nope. We haven't said our "grateful's" yet".
 
My second youngest will wait for hours if no one tells him to eat.
 
I felt so bad one morning.  I fixed him his breakfast and then
got busy with work.
 
I came back about 45 minutes later and he asks "Can I eat now?"
 
Oh, son, I'm so sorry...of course you can eat.....
 
From then on,  I remember to tell him "You can eat now" when I
fix him food and he will be eating alone.
 
He has just always been used to the courtesy of waiting until
everyone else is at the table and fixed their food and ready to
eat before he eats.
 
He has always had this courtesy as something that was "automatic"
so it doesn't dawn on him to do otherwise.
 
My second oldest, on the other hand,  also does very well waiting
most of the time,  except when he is really hungry.
 
Then he does the "sneak attack".
 
You know, if you eat just a small amount around the edges when no
one is looking, no one will notice.
 
Plus, it is important to do the "chew without moving your mouth" thing.
 
Sometimes, he can get about 20% of the meal down,  before everyone is
sitting. 
 
Then when we are all sitting he asks.."can we eat now?"
 
Yes, you can finish your meal now.....(with a smile)
 
So he's got 80% courtesy...and 20% starvation.
 
Not too shabby.
 
(There is starvation factors when you are a growing boy, you know)
 
I just like it.
 
I would have never thought to eat before everyone else when I grew up.
 
And granted,  in the past,  doing so might have meant being excused
from the table, being sent to your room without dessert,  or
in some homes,  even much more severe punishments.
 
Not in our home....
 
Waiting until others arrive at the table and are ready to begin eating
is just a really nice way of saying..."I'm hungry...But You Matter!"
 
We eat together because we love and care about each other.
 
And waiting another few minutes to begin eating never hurt anybody.
 
As a matter of fact....try it sometime.
 
Wait for a friend or family member,  spouse or co-worker,  before
you start eating.
 
Enjoy the meal together.
 
You may just realize how much joy it brings both of you to know
that someone waited to eat...just for you.....because...
 
You matter!
 

Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!
 
Love To You Today!
 
 
 
"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENEFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"
 
The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!
 
 
 
A Final Thought:
 
Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.
 
May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.
 
Respectfully,
Tim
 

This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.
 
 

Or read us on the web:
http://loveworks.ebloggy.com/
 
 
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.
 
From LOVE WORKS DAILY 09/27/05
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry
 
 
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