Etiquette. It's not just for the other guy.

We can all use a good reminder now and then of how to wisely live among the billions of other people inhabiting this planet.

Grievance 1: Shopping carts. I pull into the parking lot and attempt to park my vehicle when I spot it: A rogue cart in the stall. I begrudgingly back out and find a new spot. Ugh.

How difficult is it to properly return your cart, really? I do realize that there are times when the corral is twenty feet away, but it only takes a few seconds to walk that distance pushing your cart. And how about those people who DO return their carts, but instead of pushing them all the way into the corral they leave them at the entrance, and then EVERYONE afterwards just decides to pile up their carts after that first cart. Now there are 10+ carts sticking out into the driving areas simply because that first person couldn't walk the extra six feet. If I see this I will try to push those carts back into the corral, but often there are so many stuck together that they are too heavy to push. Add packed snow/ice into the scenario, and there is no way anyone can move those carts without that special red cart car. JUST PUT YOUR CART INTO THE CORRAL!

Grievance 2: Facebook posts. Oh man, could I say a lot about the posts I see on Facebook. But I would like to call special attention to the political debates and the posts that are just too personal.

First off, if you are going to post an opinion that is politically divisive PLEASE have an open mind and be willing to accept that at least one of your friends does not share your opinion. If you are going to post anything that is political in nature or is an issue of hot debate you have to realize that you are opening yourself up to people's comments, and we all know that an Internet debate will be the result. NO ONE wins an Internet debate. No one's opinions are swayed by your eloquently worded, fact-filled post. Moreover your friends just get all worked up by the discussion, and both sides end up upset. This isn't helpful to anyone.

During the election there was a lot of posts from people who wanted others to vote no to the marriage amendment. But instead of simply saying to their friends "I am going to vote no, but you can vote however you feel is right." people posted nasty, one-sided posts regarding how selfish the other side was and that they were most certainly wrong, etc. There were some who went so far as to say, "Tell me now if you plan to vote yes so I can unfriend you." Wow. That is extremely petty. Are you so close-minded that you don't even want to be friends with someone who doesn't agree with you? Sounds kind of cultish to me. Not once did I see a mean-spirited post by a person who planned to vote yes. All their posts were courteous, friendly, and considerate to others' opinions. If you want others to respect your beliefs then you need to extend them the same courtesy.

Onto the posts that are just too personal, aka TMI. Rule of thumb: If you wouldn't stand up in a crowded room and announce whatever it is that you have to say, then don't say it on Facebook. It's that simple.

Grievance 3: Family interaction. "Why should I have to pick that up? I didn't make the mess." "I put away my Legos. Those other ones are hers." My girls are struggling with this attitude lately.

Being part of a family means pitching in and helping out, even when you aren't responsible for the mess. Maybe you weren't the one who had the idea to play with the Littlest Pet Shop toys, but you certainly did play with it. That means that yes, you have to help put it away.

The other question I hear is, "Why can't you do it?" When a family member asks someone else to do something for them it is generally because they have a valid reason for asking, and responding to a request with a question like that just causes frustration and shows self-centeredness. Instead you ought to be asking yourself what is preventing you from doing what was asked. Is it because you are hindered, or is it because you simply don't want to do it?

I often remind my girls of Jesus' example of washing the disciples feet. -- The disciples and Jesus had been walking all day, and now they were going to sit down and have a meal together. But first someone needed to wash the dust and dirt off their sandal-wearing feet. It was a disgusting job that only the lowest of servants performed; none of the disciples wanted to do it. And yet Jesus did it for all his disciples. -- That kind of example of servitude is what we ought to be exemplifying in our homes. By "we" I mean every family member: children and parents. Sometimes we are asked to perform tasks that simply suck, but when we follow Jesus' example of doing a gross chore without complaint that brings much glory to our Father.