Honor is Customer Service Brought Home

When was the last time you received a surprise? Don’t just think about the big surprises like a birthday gift, but think of the little ones, like an unexpected thank you or an encouraging word from someone you appreciate. It’s those little surprises in life that give a real lift to our days.

Joanne Miller, RN, BSN

Good customer service does the same thing. You look with delight on the experience because the person has treated you in a special way. Honor does the same thing. It gives more than what’s expected. It adds energy to relationships and the result is delight.

Try a Little Experiment

Try this. Several times today, give little unexpected gifts of kindness and watch what happens. Give a small gift here, a patient response there, let someone go in front of you, or encourage someone with a compliment. Watch the smiles and other pleasant responses. Those are all examples of ways to show honor. People are delighted and you feel joy in your heart.

In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 Jesus made several statements about the value of doing more than what’s expected. In verses 38-39 he says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ (That’s what’s expected.) But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (That’s doing more than what’s expected.)

Jesus talked about the benefits of giving a little extra to others. He talked about going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, doing your acts of righteousness in secret, and blessing your enemies. These are all examples of honor. God loves honor and even rewards those who give it to others. Honor not only benefits others but it changes the giver and makes him or her more enjoyable to be around and generally a more joyful person.

Kids Need to Learn Honor – It’s a Life Skill

Once you begin developing this quality in yourself, you’ll want to teach it to your kids. God has hidden within honor the secret ingredients for success, not just now when kids are young, but for the rest of their lives.

It’s interesting that the Bible mentions that children should obey their parents two times, but eight times the Bible tells children to honor their parents. Furthermore, the Bible uses honor in eight commands. Here they are:

God – 1 Samuel 2:30
Pastors – 1 Timothy 5:17
Widows – 1 Timothy 5:3
Marriage – Hebrews 13:4
Your Body – 1 Corinthians 6:19
Government Leaders – Romans 13:7
Wives – 1 Peter 3:7
Parents –  8 times

And, if that isn’t enough, then look at the ninth time God issues a command using the word honor: Romans 12:10 says, “Honor one another above yourselves.”

Don’t Miss This!

This is big. It’s so big that parents can’t miss this huge teaching. It’s honor that helps children move beyond of selfishness. We say that for every form of selfishness there is an honor-based solution. The practice and training of honor helps children become less self-focused, contribute more to a family, add energy to the environment, and become a blessing to others.

Children learn to add energy to family life instead of sucking the energy out. All families benefit from honor. We say that if you want your children to fly straight you teach them obedience. If you want them to fly high, you teach them honor.

To assist you in honor training in your home we developed the 13-week Kids Honor Club to help you teach your children, ages 3-12, what honor looks like in practical ways. One lesson addresses anger, another valuing others, three lessons look at sibling conflict and another addresses honoring words, yet another teaches kids to do random acts of kindness. It’s a program that will change the way your family relates and change your kids from the inside out.

Honor changes the way children operate. This book shows you how to teach it.

This parenting tip comes from the Honor Curriculum by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN. The Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids book contains teaching for parents along with 8 Family Together Times for children of all ages.

We are pleased to announce that the Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes In You and Your Kids book is now available as an audiobook as well. Learn more here.