Respect... Deal with it...

During the month of April, I like to take some time to meditate and reflect, so I will be reposting some of my old more favorite thought-tales.  This one is timely, as it coincides with the upcoming birthday of Beth Loy, who is featured in this post.  I hope you enjoy it, even if you are reading it a second time :))

It's Friday friends, and time for another Cocktail Hour with the Henderson's.  Wisdom can come from some of the most incredible places.  This week, I was reminded of a great piece of wisdom by a young man that I work with in my role as an Employment Counselor.  He has gone through his life carrying around a burden that he cannot cure.  Some of us would see it as a terrible curse, and feel as though the world owed us something because of this thing that made us different, and not by our own doing.  But he has instead decided to learn to cope with this thing that makes him unique, and excel beyond it however possible.  We were talking this week about what it was like to be a young boy and deal with others who teased and turned from him. He told me that he used to throw things at people when he was small and spit at them. He told me he did this because it made them fear him, and then they would leave him alone. Why did he stop? "Well, I learned after awhile that the fear would wear off, and they would just be back with bigger and badder things to say." Yes, that's true isn't it? We get shut down with fear and we just go off and gird ourselves up to fight another day. I asked him why he stopped. "I started seeing that people who the bullies respected got left alone, for good.  Respect lasts, fear fades."  Wow.  Respect lasts.  Standing up to those who treat you like an outcast, or who disagree with you tells them they best respect you.  I'm not afraid of you.  We are just different.
I saw this same theme in my friend Beth Loy's post this week as she shared about being different.  She didn't use fear or throwing harsh and untrue words out to make her point.  She stated the way it was.  This is what she believes.  This is who she is.  Deal with it.
We may share common loves, talents and beliefs.  But if you put us in a group picture, we stand out - some more than others.  Why should any of us fear those who point out those differences?  Let's instead demand respect for all those around us.  Even if we just don't get their deal, let's still shout out for their right to have a deal.  Tonight, we toast to respect for each other's differences, me drinking White Sangria, and Chip is drinking the red.  I will tell him why the white is better, and he will insist that the red is more delicious.  In the end, we'll drink our wine and smile, having learned something more about each other.  That is what respect does and fear prevents.  CHEERS FRIENDS!!!

Joy's Red and White Sangria
Sweet White Wine or Sweet Red Wine
Diet Mountain Dew
Orange Juice
Lime Juice
Cherry Juice
Sugar
Pour it all over ice.  Garnish with fruit if desired.