Sunday, August 17, 2008

Treating men like gentlemen...



I recently received this email from a reader. I find it SO very encouraging!!

Dear Mrs. U,

I wanted to share a real life story about how our actions and attitudes as women REALLY do affect the men around us. If we act like ladies, men will usually respond as gentlemen.

My friend and I went to see a play at the famous Fox Theater in Atlanta. As we approached the ticket booth, my friend realized that she had forgotten something in her car. So she returned to her car to get the item and started back up the sidewalk toward the theater. There was a side entry door that is used by staff and castmembers, and as she was approaching, she could see that there were 6-8 male theater employees standing along the sidewalk. She realized that her only option was to walk straight through the men - some on her right and some on her left - so she proceeded towards them. She glanced up at them as she was passing through, nodded her head, and out of her mouth came, "Excuse me, gentlemen!!!" She said that they had THE most shocked expressions on their faces. They then stood up straight, nodded back, smiled, and said, "Ma'am!" (my guess is that they responded in their deepest, manliest voices ;)).

As she was telling me what had happened I was blown away and told her what a PERFECT thing to say! By treating them like gentlemen and EXPECTING them to BEHAVE like gentlemen, they stepped up to the plate and WERE gentlemen!! I was so proud of her and I've mentioned it several times since. She says, "Yes, I guess the Lord just gave me those words because I felt quite uncomfortable and wouldn't have known WHAT to say."

What a great example of how acting like a lady calls men to act like gentlemen!! And they respond in like when they are treated like gentlemen! It really can start with us! I hope my friend inspires your readers like she did me!!!

Mrs. Thornton


So, ladies, what do you think? Have any of you been in a similar situation? If so, I would love to hear what happened!!

7 comments:

~Bren~ said...

Wow. That is wonderful. So very true!

Jan said...

I think when they can tell you are using the word "gentlemen" with sincerity, they really like hearing it. I use it often too and find they seem to appreciate it.

JanH

The Stepford Stepmom said...

Well, while I believe good behavior begets good behavior, and respect begets respect... I tend to think a TRUE gentleman is a gentleman regardless of how he is treated, or if the person he's interacting with acts like a TRUE lady or gentleman or not.

Some of the times I've seen Mr. Stepford at his most gentlemanly was when faced by somebody who was the exact opposite. ;)

Joshua said...

As a man, I would say that men do respond to the term "gentlemen" when said in sincerity. A lot of us have forgotten our manners, but the term "gentlemen" will remind us of those manners our mothers and grandmothers taught us.

Here is an interesting question: do women respond when they are referred to as "ladies"? I don't think they respond positively as men do. What are your thoughts to sincerely referring to a woman as a lady?

Heather Anne said...

I have had this very thing happen on more than one occasion - and one time, I am quite sure they were young 'gang' members. When I politely asked the gentleman to help me (a huge sincere smile on my face) with a cart that was stuck firmly, they almost tripped over one another to help me - a fat old lady to them I'm sure! I wondered if they laughed about it afterwards, but they really helped me out and I was quite grateful and told them just how much I appreciated their effort on my behalf.

Kelly @ The Barefoot Mama said...

What a wonderful story! I also love the graphic accompanying it. :o)

Mommaroo2 said...

That is such a good suggestion. I'm afraid that in the same situation, if I weren't in a very pleasant mood, I might be tempted to get annoyed that I even HAD to say something to let me through, and may even give them all a dirty look. But her way is so much more pleasant and ladylike. ;-)

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin