Ladies And Gentlemen

Ladies and Gentlemen

At a performance or speech, audiences are typically addressed as “ladies and gentlemen.” When this phrase was first used hundreds of years ago, a lady or a gentleman was someone from the upper class. But their class wasn’t just about money. It represented a world governed by a high sense of taste, courtesy, and good manners.

Today, regardless of class, there are too few ladies and gentlemen. There is rarely a “yes, ma’am” or “yes, sir,” a “please” or a “thank you.” Few respect others’ boundaries. Elders and women aren’t honored in the way they deserve. We’ve lost sight of what it means to make others feel important in the way we treat them.

The best part of what it once meant to be a lady or gentleman is also embodied in what it means to be a better human being. No matter what class you’re in, you can still be a person of class. You can show respect for yourself and for others.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10