https://allpoetry.com/story/16078023-A-Dirty-Word–Obey–.-.-.-Then-How-About-Respect–by-Seah-Ray

A Dirty Word–Obey? . . . Then How About ‘Respect’?

In this day of global enlightenment
through fast transmit of insightfulness
whether false or true, pause button not hit,
for ‘obey’, the word, does not cause ‘wary’ to commit…

Police are suspect in many a mind.
Parents are taxed and not towards adherence inclined.
Employers–discouraged by employees
needing not cameras to ‘tow-the-line’.
And employees are hesitant when money’s not loosed to connect ends of the ‘necessities’ kind.

Our globe spins wobbly at best.
On flat tires in the desert due to international unrest.

Loyalties are not readily defined,
for ‘me-first’ has been indoctrinated
mainly since the twentieth century.
And narcissistic has become a ‘virtue’.
‘Team-player’ is considered worthy only
for non-leaders with a ‘weakened’ spine.

So who does one ‘obey’ during this desert storm?
Who should wear ‘submission’ as lovely clothing to adorn?
To whom is loyalty deserved?… To ‘parents imperfect’ to whom we’re born?
Who has set the standards as we ‘battle’ internally and outward daily tired and worn?

***

Christ said: “If you observe my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love.”

“This is my commandment,

that you love one another
just as I have loved you.

No one has love greater than this,
that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.

You are my friends
if you do what I am commanding you.

I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master does.

But I have called you friends,
because I have made known to you

all the things I have heard from my Father.

You did not choose me,
but I chose you,

and I appointed you to go and keep bearing fruit
and that your fruit should remain,

so that no matter what you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:10, 12-15.

Children, be obedient to your parents.​—Eph. 6:1.

Jehovah also expects us to obey him. He deserves our obedience because he is our Creator, the Sustainer of our life, and the wisest of all parents. However, the primary reason why we obey Jehovah is that we love him. (1 John 5:3) Although there are many reasons why we should obey Jehovah, he does not force us to do so. Jehovah gave us the gift of free will, so he is happy when we choose to obey him out of love for him. Parents want their children to be safe. That is why they establish standards of behavior. When children obey those guidelines, they show that they put trust in their parents and respect them. How much more important it is, then, that we know our heavenly Father’s standards and live by them. When we do, we show Jehovah that we love and respect him and we also benefit ourselves. (Isa. 48:17, 18) By contrast, those who reject Jehovah and his standards end up hurting themselves.​—Gal. 6:7, 8. w20.02 9-10 ¶8-9 © an hour ago, Lucretia McCloud    hope • love • pain • sad • society • spiritual