RESPECT
by louis gander

Where's respect we used to have,
among each other, great?
And where's concern for other folks
in love. How do we rate?

We used to clean up, comb our hair,
when taking off for town,
but now we think it's 'oh, so cool'
when pants are sliding down.

Baggy pants are not the cause
respect is nearly dead.
It starts before the pants are made.
The 'cause' is in our head.

Just look and see the jogging shorts
at any grocery store.
And how can we still wonder why
our crime rates upward soar?

With dirty, ragged, torn tee-shirts,
what does it say to others?
And can you see this disrespect
for even, yes, our mothers?

We are so full of gracious love -
but only for ourselves.
We've lost our love for others as
they watch out for themselves.

And even now in government,
without the least regard -
they tax and spend (their sacred cause).
Belligerence is hard.

We think we have the answers -
but have we gone insane,
with pay-offs by the trillions -
paid back with waves of grain?

Respect those purple mountains.
Respect our fruited plains.
Tell me why we're tightly wrapped -
and bound with our own chains?

What happened to America -
and to those spacious skies?
What happened to our families?
Who's focused in our eyes?

Where's respect for brotherhood?
Let's do some deep research.
Let's open up our Bibles now
in office, homes and church.

It's way past time we get on track
and rid ourselves of pride -
for if we don't, our country's in
for one last bumpy ride....

Foundations are not built on air -
and faith cannot be bought.
Don't listen to the here and now,
but what our grandpa's taught.

Strength cannot come from within,
when feet aren't on the ground.
The strength we get is from above
where truth is always found.

Respect for flag and country
can one day come again -
but only if we humbly ask,
forgiveness from our sin.

Where is respect for country?
Are God's commandments wrong?
I ask you now, "What can replace
these ten to make us strong?"

--------

Exodus 20 (KJV)
The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Copyright 2021 by louis gander.
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