Today we are going to talk about ways that we can develop an attitude of courtesy. If we really want to be known as Christ’s disciples, love will be at the core of who we are, and the foundational characteristic of courtesy will be part of who we are. Here are 9 ways that you be more courteous.
1) Seize the moment – Courtesy means acknowledging the presence or efforts of someone else. It can be as simple as remember birthdays, anniversaries, and sending thank you notes. Why not send a card to someone to encourage their day, or to let someone know you are praying for them while they are ill.
2) In the car – If we treated the person in the car next to us as our personal friend, driving would be a whole different experience! Pretend they are your friend, even if they have been rude to you.
3) Be a good neighbor – Courtesy is a synonym for being a good neighbor. The ones we live around can benefit from us being courteous to them.
4) On the cell phone- Learn that the person in your presence is more important than a call you might be receiving. Using courtesy about where and when to speak on your phone is important too!
5) Make the right choice – It is more satisfying to act in courtesy than to react in anger. It also takes less time and less energy in the long run. Treat annoyances as opportunities for grace.
6) Receive graciously – Courtesy is just saying thank you and being genuinely thankful when you are given something.
7) When giving bad news- Unpleasant things happen in life, be courteous even when we have to inform someone of something unpleasant.
8) Asking for forgiveness – We all make mistakes. Courtesy calls for us to put ourselves in the other person’s place, and to apologize in the most loving way.
9) Paying attention – When we are not tuned in to others conversations or actions, we are telling them by our actions that we don’t think they are valuable.
Put some of these into practice in your life today. We can make love a way of life everyday!
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