Mind Your Ps and Qs
Sometimes parents or teachers tell children, “Mind your Ps and Qs.” Usually they mean to watch their speech or behavior. They want the children to act right – to mind their manners – to straighten up and fly right.
We need to hear that message too. How often do we:
- Talk without thinking about the effect of our words?
- Allow our emotions to control our behavior? We don’t feel well, so we don’t treat others well.
- Embarrass ourselves by using bad manners?
One thoughtless word or deed can harm or destroy a relationship. Therefore, when we see Ps and Qs on children’s blocks, let’s remember to mind our Ps and Qs.
- Think before speaking.
- Think before acting.
- Use proper manners.
People disagree on the origin of this phrase. It may have begun because the small (lower case) p and q look so much alike. They are the reverse (mirror image) of one another. Therefore, we must be careful when we write. We don’t want to confuse our lettters.
Likewise, we don’t want to confuse right and wrong. Whatever we do, let’s mind our Ps and Qs.
“He wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did” (Proverbs 1:3 TLB).
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