The course of people’s lives are forever changed by both the heritage we receive and impart.

The focus of the past several weeks has been split between normal life responsibilities and the planning of a reception for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. This week was particularly full with the finalization of all the food, decorations, and communications. The event was a great success in many ways. There were the initial, typical visible ways, such as the food and decorations which everyone enjoyed. However, the aspect of lasting impression from the event on my brother, spouse, and myself were the responses of people, expressing their love for the impact my parents had on their lives.

Some people, though elderly and feeble, traveled long distances to be there. Others were involved in leadership of major community events, yet slipped away for a little while because they, too, did not feel it was an option to miss the opportunity to say, “Thank You,” and honor my parents for the way their lives have been forever changed by knowing them. My parents have expended the energy of their lives befriending, comforting, encouraging and carrying others through the good and bad events of life and it showed through people’s amazing responses.

The event was a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse into the heritage we have received and the lasting cords of positive impact that have been woven into the communities in which my parents have lived.

The first person to arrive was an elderly widow. She had hand written and framed a letter expressing her love to my parents for the kindness shown to her and her late husband. My dad had visited him repeatedly at their home while the man was dying of cancer. The lady has ceaselessly recalled my dad singing to her husband to bring him comfort in those final days. Another person had a letter enclosed in a gift, expressing how my parents had laughed and cried with them during the ups and downs of her life. One man traveled from leadership responsibilities at a regional event in a neighboring town just to be with us for a few moments because he did not want to miss the opportunity to express his love for my parents; he told them how his life was a complete wreck before he met them, but now it has been restored. Person after person expressed thoughts of incredibly deep love and the experiences which developed it. Each one was the type of expression rarely voiced to another person while he or she is still alive; many times, such thoughts are only articulated at one’s eulogy. My parents were blessed to hear first hand the lasting impression they have made on people’s lives, changing the course of those lives and of history by the love and character they have shown.

A priceless heritage gained is one that must also be given.

Encarta English Dictionary defines “heritage” as character acquired by being born into a particular family; a way of life passed from one generation to the next. This definition aptly expresses what my sibling and I felt after yesterday’s event. My parents have left indelible impressions upon people who now live around the world. Their persons are forever changed by the life interaction they had with my parents — , the love, concern, support, etc. It is no wonder that my brother and myself were naturally drawn into careers which focus on meeting the needs of people, lifting them up, supporting and encouraging them, working to make their lives better in lasting ways. The heritage of loving lives from my parents is one that we have been gifted with and are responsible to impart into the lives of those with whom we come in contact.

The lack of a memorable heritage does not keep you from beginning one.

If you have not had such a heritage poured into you, do not feel that you have nothing to impart. A heritage that changes the masses has to begin somewhere. Be the person who begins a heritage of character in your family line, who begins a way of life that is passed on to those around you by forever making their lives better.

Your own life and the lives of others are greatly enhanced when you choose to daily show the people you meet just a little respect.

Making a difference in the world — in the lives of all the people with whom you come in contact in a day – is not difficult to achieve. Everyone appreciates being shown a simple kindness, such as being treated with respect. It does not take any extra effort on your part, just a decision to live by the golden rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you (Lk. 6:31).” In other words, these simple words of Jesus give us a life guideline of treating people with the respect with which we ourselves desire to be treated. Most people will appreciate it; a few will not. But it is still well worth it to give people a gift that everyone inwardly desires and, hence, meet a basic human need. You, personally, cannot solve all the problems of humanity. Yet you can meet the innate daily human need for respect in those with whom you come in contact.

“Show proper respect to everyone.”

This is a quote from 1 Peter 2:17. You may not know the person at all to know if they are worthy of respect in the various aspects of his or her lifestyle, but in your daily business and community contacts, “proper respect” is responding to the fact that the person is a human being with the basic need of being shown respect. The Greek word for “respect” in this quote is timao, meaning to “fix value upon, to be peaceable, to show respect to people in general (Strong’s Dictionary of New Testament Words).” General respect, just showing a little bit of respect for the fact that they are a human being who needs it, is valuable in and of itself.

Another quote says, “Encourage one another daily (Heb. 3:13).”

The Greek word here, parakaleo, means to “give comfort or exhortation (Strong’s Dictionary of New Testament Words).” You can show simple respect by being an encourager. Thesaurus.com defines encourage as “cheer, praise, advocate, inspire, motivate, perk up, show favor, smile upon, support, strengthen.”

As I go through the day, whether it is with cashiers, clerks, bank tellers, waiters, neighbors whose paths I cross, or in business phone conversations, I make sure to tell everyone to have a good day. Why? Because I want a good day, so I speak that blessing on others. They want a good day, too, even if they haven’t consciously thought about it. I make an effort to compliment those who are cheerful, as it is a rare quality. I thank those who are quick and efficient at their job, giving them credit for their efforts. If a teenager has a complex hairstyle, I’ll compliment him or her on it.

The responsive smiles are reward enough, but I know what I am doing goes deeper.

Many people do not have a good core of loving people in their lives who daily show them any respect. Or, even if they have a good core of family and friends, many people are not even treated with respect as a person on the job by their employers.

No, none of us can meet all the needs of the world, but you can make a difference in the lives of everyone you meet each day.

Show a little respect; encourage or compliment them. Meet their basic human need for respect and both you, and the world with whom you rub shoulders, will feel the benefits!