“R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” Aretha Franklin sang decades ago. It was important then, it’s important now, but what does it mean to really respect someone? I think it means looking beneath the surface to realize that each person is valuable, everyone should be treasured, simply because they are God’s creation. Everyone has dignity, everyone has rights.

You can offer respect to survivors by genuinely honoring their worth. This goes far beyond extending help, because you can help someone without respecting them. Survivors (like all other people) sometimes make decisions that you might find questionable. Or you might not agree with them about important points. And their circumstances might not be very pleasant. But when you offer godly respect, it’s not based on what they do or say or possess. It’s based on who they are in the Divine: they are God’s beloved children, just like you are.

Pray for yourself so that you will consistently offer respect to survivors, and to yourself also.

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