A Foundation of Integrity

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

As a child, my Grandmother always told me that when I commit to something I should do my best to follow through on that committment no matter what.  That always stuck with me.  Growing up being raised my an Evangelist and Leader in the church, I was always given responsibilities and at times what seemed to be assignments yet even when I didn’t necessarily want to do them I felt that sense of responsibility to complete and give them my all simply because I had given my word.  Whether I had been told to do something or volunteered, I tried my best to give it 110%.

As I grew older, this sense of integrity carried over into my education and extracurricular life.  When I said I was going to be on a group or team I always made sure to do my part whether the other members did or not simply because my name and my word had been placed on it.  I felt if my word wasn’t worth anything and couldn’t be counted on then in turn neither could I .

As an adult, when I entered the professional arena I always made it a point to be certain that my work and my word were something that could be counted on no matter what.  I very rarely called in unless it were a true emergency or unavoidable and if I could foresee a day that I would not be there I did everything in my power to prepare my co-workers for my absence.  I tried to be sure that my standards towards my work left an impact.  I wanted those around me to know how much my word meant to me above all else.

Now as a parent, I seem to be facing a struggle to instill the same foundation of values my grandmother placed in me at such an early age.  Just this weekend my Teenager came to me asking if he could miss a Youth Ministry meeting simply because he “was hoping for a break” this weekend after having Band Camp practices all week.  I told him no because he had already given his word and his committment to the leader and the other members of the ministry team.  He went on to explain how he didn’t really see the big deal in missing one meeting.  I had to explain that he had no true reason to miss it and what if the next one he had a real reason perhaps being sick or something and then that would be two meetings he missed.

For me, I feel it is more important for him as well as my other Kiddies to understand that it is the value of their word that is what’s important.  Not what other people may be doing or what they think may be accepted excuses.  The fact that they said they would be somewhere or do something is what they need to stand by and behind.  Needless to say he is attending the meeting, even though he is probably not very happy with me at this moment.  Yet, I feel the temporary attitude will be worth the long-term lesson.

This post was written as part of the Thrive @ Home Link-Up 

a blog hop for women to find encouragement to thrive–not just survive–at home!

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