If you are the mother of little girls and boys like I am instead of teenagers, you may be wondering how manners should come into play in your home.  Well, my theory is teach them when they are young and they will remember it when they are old.  Manners are just like anything else in our lives they take practice to truly make a routine and daily part of your child’s life.

Some of the things that I personally start young with my children are manners such as “yes ma’am and no ma’am” or “yes sir and no sir”.  I also encourage them to say “please” and “thank you” even if it is just to each other, but especially to adults.  I also encourage them to hold doors open for other people and not push or rush in line.

Other things I believe are important are saying the blessing at meal times and making prayers a part of our daily routine, this may not seem like it relates to manners, but it is something we do as a “Christian” family.

Finally, I encourage my children to keep private matters private and not talk loudly or speak when adults are talking.  These are just a few of the things I believe we can do to “begin” our children with manners even when they are young.

Photo Credit: AD-Passion

Good manners, they are something we may all hope that our children possess, but have you ever really thought about why manners are practiced? Recently, I learned that it is not common practice for young people to say “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” in more Northern states, however, it is common practice and considered to be rude by children if they do not use these terms in the South. Growing up in the South, I have always practiced these terms of what we consider respect and have also taught my children to do the same.

Recently, in my Back to the Basics of Life Seminar Series, I taught on the subject of Etiquette and Manners and the question arose whether manners were “Biblical”. I did base the lesson around certain key verses of Scripture that I had already considered, but after being posed with this question I decided to do some more digging in Scripture to see what else the Bible had to say about manners. I found more than I had imagined.

The following are some examples:

“Even a child is known by his actions,by whether his conduct is pure and right.”

Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)

This verse tells us that we are to teach out children about correct conduct. We must of course search further in Scripture to determine what is “pure and right”.

We can find some examples in these verses:

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:31 (NIV)

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”

Phillippians 1:27 (NIV)

All of these verses talk about how we are to conduct ourselves, from the way that we talk to the way that we act and treat others. To me, manners is all about “respect”, respect for God and man, showing others Christ through the way that we act and conduct ourselves. Manners can also be more specific however, basic manners respect yourself, God, your body, the body of Christ and those around you.

Other Scriptures for your reference include:

Luke 10:8

Proverbs 11:17

Psalm 141:3

1 Peter 4:9

1 Timothy 6: 18-19

Proverbs 15:8

Ephesians 6:1

Romans 12:13

Hebrews 10:24

Matthew 22:39

1 Peter 2:17