Respect...

Simple Definition of respect:
A feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.; a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way; a particular way of thinking about or looking at something.
It’s painfully obvious how much this country and its patrons have lost respect.
Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. There’s delicious food, friends, family, parades and of course, fireworks.
My girls and I were in the parade in Clay Center again this fourth.
It started out great, we painted the horses, won first place and everyone was ready to go. The horses were doing great, until we got about a block from the start.
Horses sometimes spook, and when they do, it’s game over. They are used to loud noises and kids and crowds, which makes you feel comfortable riding them in a parade. That being said, there are a lot of other things that factor into it.
As I said, we were doing good until we got to the start. There was a young man who all of a sudden, decided to light a large round of black cats. The first horse spooked and it was a domino affect.
I started yelling as loud as I could, “NO FIREWORKS!” He listened just long enough for us to be out of eye sight.
It was a long parade for those of us at the back. When people ask you to do something, especially in a situation such as this, you need to show respect and listen.
After the parade, I tried to find the young man, but he had disappeared. I guess that was just as well.
We are a nation run by electronics. We are a nation that no longer wants to “rock the boat.” Everyone feels they deserve a bit of everything, we can’t hurt anyone’s feelings. We don’t take the blame when things go wrong. We are a nation that has lost respect.
It’s become too easy to hide behind a text message. You get upset, you text someone. This is how things get misunderstood. You can’t read emotion behind a text message.
That makes it that much easier to just fly off the handle and say whatever you want to say without seeing how it affects the other person. It often leaves a lot unsaid.
I personally have tried my hardest to instill respect in my children. How many four-year-old boys do you know that will be immersed in a game of Knockerball, the point of which is to slam into people as hard as you can my son,c who was out in the middle of all this, and every time he bumped into anyone he stopped and apologized.
When we are face to face with someone, it seems to slow us down, consider our words before they are spoken (or typed).
It is far too easy to just place the blame on someone else anymore. “It wasn’t me,” is still responsible for a lot that goes on at my house. That doesn’t mean I stop trying.
We need to give respect where respect is due, and in return, we will receive respect.
Please take some time to stop and think about what you are doing, and what kind of reaction it may put into motion.
From a mom with kids on horses, I also ask you to just sit and enjoy a parade, don’t light off fireworks or spray water toward animals.
Show respect.

Me walking Pistol. Lindsey trying to control Puma, Brielle trying not to get trampled...the after effects of fireworks at the beginning of a parade...