My mother’s generation had an unspoken rule that they lived by faithfully. They did not wear white after Labor Day. That meant, no while slacks, as they would call them, no white shoes, and definitely they would not carry a white bag.
Growing up, my father’s aunt was our aunt, too. She was always Aunt Mary to us. I recall her being well groomed, and taking her clothing choices very seriously. Even writing this, I can absolutely imagine her opinion on the dangers of breaking this standing rule. To continue wearing white after the official end of the summer season was to break decorum, which women of her generation just did not do. It was a matter of propriety that would carry over into other parts of society, effecting not only dress, but behavior, and speech.
It is funny the things that you remember. All of this came to mind as I put on a white summer top, after Labor Day, knowing the forecast was to be a day in the 90’s.
This may be an amusing thing to remember, but there came a time for generations to follow that this was no longer even on the table. In fact, if you were to ask most young women today about this they would probably have no idea what we were talking about, unless they had a very elderly aunt Mary. After all, wearing white of any sort after Labor Day was not going to change the world as they knew it.
Yet, there are some golden rules, as they may have been called, that certainly have been put aside, and which have contributed to the detriment of generations of people living today. It is a simple, often unspoken, rule that I was brought up knowing and living. It simply said, honor your mother and your father.
Scripture says it this way in Exodus 20:12, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”
I know it was fun remembering the white rules, but there is nothing fun about witnessing the disrespect that is rampant everywhere we go today. We see generations of people showing little respect for parents. Sadly this has become the normal behavior for many, and as parents are not being shown respect, they themselves have begun to bring this attitude forward into public places.
We see young and old who seem to have forgotten what it means to respect and honor others. It has come down to treating others as they themselves are being treated. If they are not shown respect in their families, by those that are near to them, then it is not hard to carry disrespect over to those that are not. Respect demands respect, but the opposite seems to be true as well.
My husband was taught to show respect in, and out, of his home. He was the small boy holding the door for others to go through first, he was taught to respond with yes sir, and no sir when appropriate, never to hit a girl, and always to carry a handkerchief.
Carrying a handkerchief may not be what framed his character, but certainly it didn’t hurt. What I do know is that the important qualities of his character carried over from the boy to the man, to a wife and daughters, to grandchildren, and ultimately to all that he meets.
It is a matter of treating everyone with respect, because they matter, and because life is better for everyone when you do.
1 Peter 2:17 CSB Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Proverbs 21:21 Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly.
Luke 6:31 Do for others just what you want them to do for you.