Respect and Trust

As I’ve said before, respect is required if a marriage is to succeed. That said, though, it is not up to the individual to require respect from another. Trust is very important, too, but if trust is broken, it must be earned again unless the person doing the trusting voluntarily decides to trust again. This is a very important distinction to make, and I regret not having learned this lesson sooner—on the supply side, trust is given, and respect is given; but on the receiving end they should not be expected, but worked for instead.

And to the one I’ve offended: if you give me a chance, I promise to earn your trust and respect; and I’ll work very hard to do so. I know I haven’t been trustworthy and respectable in the past, but I want to make it up to you.