Rise up

One day I got thinking about one of my children’s bus drivers. He had a policy of expecting the best of the kids on the bus and they usually lived up to his expectations. As I thought about this man and the care he took of my kids I thought about how he probably could teach the leaders of the world a thing or two.

He expected the best of the kids; sure I know some of them played up but generally the kids behaved. No, they weren’t angels; I know that, they were kids with a kid’s perspective on life. If we expect the best of people and make sure that we tell them, that is what we do expect then I think we will be very surprised at how many people live up to our expectations.

The kids knew what he wanted and he allowed them to be kids. He didn’t force them in to a particular behaviour pattern. Our society has got so used to be told that everyone is going to do the wrong thing that many people just do the wrong thing. They live up to that expectation. Therefore rules are put in place to prevent such behaviour. The problem is, as I see it, the rules DO NOT prevent this; they are often seen as a challenge.

There will always be those who will misbehave even as adults but I think that the expectations have been lowered so much that most people have no idea there is a higher way of life. Of course I could be wrong and be expecting too much of people but I don’t think so.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Let us rise to greater expectations rather than stoop to the dreary outlooks of others.