Respect for All

"When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities - to offer just a few examples - it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected."¹  

Even when we think we do things in isolation, we are not alone. When we do good in private—it affects others in ways in that we don't always see, and the good work we do moves forward in persons, places and things. Likewise, when we are sloppy with our actions, behavior and words and don't think people are watching—the same holds true. What we do affects others, in our families, community and environment. Respect for ourselves leads to respect for others. Appreciation of our environment leaves a legacy that benefits generations to follow.

What we think of ourselves, how we care for ourselves, what we attend to—these become the blueprint for how we see the world and how the world sees us. The path that we chose to follow becomes a way to live that can be changed, diverted, amended or re-routed at any time. When we open our minds to how others experience the world, how we affect the environment and how God wishes us to live, we become life-long learners open to the new people, places and things that God sends to us each day to enlighten our path. Respecting others means respecting God. It means being open and not closed. It means being enlightened and willing to put into action what we learn from our brothers and sisters, no matter who they are and how they see the world. We learn from them respect for all life, through appreciation of the great gift of creation—the messengers of God whom He puts on our path.  

_{References:
1. Pope Francis, On Care for Our Common Home}

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