Laney

Ryan

Living a Higher Standard

Last night Rosa and I had a conversation that didn't go so well, mostly because I didn't get what she was saying.  Not because she wasn't explaining it well, but because generally I'm pretty bull headed and wasn't listening well enough.  Today I've had a chance to ponder on it a bit more and I understand much better what she was trying to teach me.

The thing that I most needed to learn was the need to hold each other at a higher standard.  If you think about it, at work we are held to a higher standard.  At home we are held to a higher standard with each other.  We hold our youth at a higher standard in their lives.  And definitely with the Lord we are all held to a higher standard.  So I don’t know why we should not expect others to also live at a higher standard with the things they do every day.  I know I should expect it of myself at all times.

Personally, I believe that it’s those higher standards that really help us to progress and become better people, husbands, wives, sons or daughters.  It’s true that because of this attitude, there will be more disappointment and sadness when things don’t work out, especially when some people are not used to being held to any standard and take things a bit too casually.  But, I believe it will be worth it in the end as those around us will be better people.

This is where I really struggle because in general I don’t like to feel bad, so I’m often too forgiving of others (or try to make excuses for them) when they don’t come through for me.  I'm not sure if we can really be too forgiving, but I personally need to not be afraid of holding those around me to that higher standard. 

Rosa has always done that for me, and I'm a much better man as a result.