Honoring your Father After Avraham died, Jacob cooked lentil soup as a sign of mourning. Esau came from the field, saw the soup and said: "... please, pour for me from this red thing" (Genesis 25:30). Later in the Torah portion (27:22) the commentator, Rashi, mentions that Jacob always spoke politely and used the word "please." Esau, however, always spoke in a rough manner to his father. What can we learn from the fact that he was polite in this conversation? Even though Esau excelled in honoring his father by taking care of his physical needs, he still spoke to him in an insolent and arrogant manner. We see here that when Esau had a desire for food, he spoke in a respectful manner and used the term na, "please". This is the manner of people with faulty traits. Even though they constantly talk with chutzpah, when it comes to manipulating someone to fulfill their desire, they speak softly and humbly. There are people who speak politely to their preferred customers in business, but fail to speak respectfully to their family and other people. Be aware of how politely and respectfully you speak to someone when you are trying to influence him to help you obtain things you want. Then try to make that manner of speaking habitual! |