R-E-S-P-E-C-T

You know the song and the singer.

Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' is regarded as an all time favorite and an all time Rock classic from the 'Queen of Soul'. Franklin's 'Respect' has been voted as one of the Top 500 songs of all time. Billboard Magazine has recognized Franklin as the #1 Singer of pop history. No doubt, she has the R-E-S-P-E-C-T that she sang for and about!

The daughter of a Baptist minister in Detroit, Aretha had the 'gift' from the start. Celebrated as a singing herald with her nationally acclaimed preacher Dad, it seemed as though the Divine Providence had His hand of grace upon her from her very early years....until her parent's marriage first struggled and then failed. Franklin became a teenage mother at 14 and again at 16 and had seen her share of broken promises as well as dreams run aground. Some say that 'Respect' was a feminist response from a minority voice that had simply had 'enough' of being beaten down by men and culture.

"The the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him." Luke 19:13

This is the heart of a story told by Jesus to those who despised Him to the core. Veiled in the obvious, Jesus was referring to His Heavenly Father who had sent His very own Son into the world as Redeemer of Souls...only to be rejected, brutalized, humiliated and murdered. Jesus was making an announcement and a prediction. He pulled no punches that He was indeed the beloved sent by the Father to retrieve the produce of the vineyard that rightfully had been entrusted to the those who should have recognized Him. He also made it plain that He would not be joyfully received, but woefully treated instead.

For Jesus...no 'R-E-S-P-E-C-T'.

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the capstone." Luke 19:17

What does Christmas mean to you?

Now that another Christmas is 'in the books'...how did and do you treat God's 'beloved'? In all the decor, travel, gift wrap, gatherings, family photo shoots, Plaza walks, table games, face stuffing, Nativity Scenes and Christmas pageants...what about this Christmas made Christ the focus of your reverent acceptance of Jesus as Lord? Have you welcomed God's 'beloved' into your life and heart this Christmas? Have you received His gift of grace laden forgiveness that frees your soul from the weight of guilt and the regret of decisions past? The price that He paid to secure these and more for you deserves a little if not a lot of R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Aretha is said to have composed this song with a bit of a chip on her shoulder. She was deserving of some common appreciation for her love investment in her wayward and distracted man when all she was 'askin for was a little respect'. From her vantage point, he needed to 'find out what it (respect) means to me', and get on with the business of dishing out the R-E-S-P-E-C-T rather than dissing her with more D-I-S-R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

A thought...

Give the Son of the Man some R-E-S-P-E-C-T. He earned it. He deserves it.