“We All Deserve Dignity and Respect”

Contributed by Susan Posey, Redeemer Lutheran Church, McLean

A friend of mine recently shared a link to an article published in Time entitled, We All Deserve Dignity and Respect.  It is authored by Russell Nelson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the occasion of his 101^st birthday!  Mr. Nelson’s observations are his gift to us, and I for one, found them to be very encouraging.

Here are a few snippets:

“The world has changed dramatically.  Yet what I have learned is that some truths do not change.  These enduring truths are what anchor us in turbulent times.”

On the occasion of my 101^st birthday, I wish to share two such truths – lessons that I believe contribute to lasting happiness and peace.

First:  Each of us has inherent worth and dignity.  I believe we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father.  But no matter your religion or spirituality, recognizing the underlying truth beneath this belief that we all deserve dignity is liberating – it brings emotional, mental, and spiritual equilibrium – and the more you embrace it, the more your anxiety and fear about the future will decrease.

Second:  Love your neighbor and treat them with compassion and respect.  A century of experience has taught me this certainty:  anger never persuades, hostility never heals, and contention never leads to lasting solutions.” 

Regardless of your religious or spiritual practice, I think there is much wonderful food for thought in this article, the full text of which can be found here.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Nelson, and thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.

This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.