Definition of Respect

VIPs get to do lots of cool things that others don’t: preferred seating, swag bags, special parking, backstage passes. Who are your VIPs? 300 years ago, my ancestors, the Tuscrarora, were a matrilineal society, meaning the women were VIPs. History 101: What is the definition of respect?

Who are your VIPs?

Stepping Back In Time

Jane was up early to see off the hunting party before going back inside her great aunt’s longhouse.

Jane moved through the center aisle passing through one family after another, all to whom she was related.  Her aunts longhouse had ten fires, at each fireplace were two families, one on one side, the other on the other, all together 20 families. While there were no chimneys, over each fireplace there was a door in the roof of the cabin to allow the smoke to escape. Unfortunately, this did not work effectively and smoke filled the interior, causing Jane to rub her burning eyes.

Finally, she found her great aunt filling a pot with dried, shelled corn. 

“Can I help with anything?” Jane asked.

“Sure,” Great Aunt Annwaraogon answered. “You can help grind this corn to make hominy.”

As they worked, Jane cleared her throat, “Do you not agree that the English have no regard for us, only wishing to push us aside, like barking dogs.”

Jane knew that her aunt’s opinion held much weight with the chief.

Jane continued, “In their greed, their only concern is to snatch up our children and women to sell for them profits in the slave trade.”

Annwaroagon answered, “Not much to disagree with there. It is true that the English are dangerous to our way of life. But, there is no certainty that we would be successful against them. Successful or not, we would certainly lose many brave warriors. Fighting against the English would require us to adopt their way of warfare. We would need an endless supply of gun powder.”

Definition of Respect: Waiting

Jane held her jaw clenched, gritting her teeth and waiting for a chance to respond. Finally, she interjected, “Our goal would not be to destroy the English. No one thinks that this is possible, but we could teach them a lesson, making them think twice before entering our territory and claiming our land, or stealing our children.”

Annwaroagon was shaking her head slowly to this argument. “Fighting them is not like fighting our other enemies. The English are like the grain; there are more and more waves coming to us from across the ocean. I am afraid that any Tuscarora victory would only be short lived.”

Learn a lesson from Annearoagon, Long-term success is better than short-lived gain. The VIPs in our life have learned wisdom from life experiences. The definition of respect is doing what they know is best, even when we think our way is better. 

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” 

1 Peter 2:17