A few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor that ushered us into World War II, a little girl was born in Memphis, Tennessee this week in 1942. The world would get to know her later on as Aretha Franklin, the famous soul singer. Probably one of her biggest hits was the song, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”.
She could really sing that song! To be honest, once you hear it you can’t help but sing it over and over again. Maybe that is why advertisers have used the catchy tune so much to sell their products.
Oh, how I wish that all we needed to do to get respect is just to sing the song. Life, as many people know it, doesn’t treat us that way. However, as we prepare for the Passion Week next week, our Lord got respect by washing the disciples’ dirty feet when they met for a new order in the Passover feast. He became the least servant to show how to get respect in the Kingdom of God. What a great reminder for us! Find your niche of respect with me and let’s be humble and do some dirty business today. Real respect starts there. Go figure!