CHARACTER
“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is my desperate hope and prayer that I raise my children to know what character is, how it is shaped, and the importance of it's value in their lives.
TODAY: Jeffrey comes to me with his reading log to sign that he has clearly just filled out. His reading times for the last week showed that he read 30 min a day, every day, from a book that ...wait for it... he just checked out from the library today. (sigh)
Me: Jeffrey, is the information on this reading log honest?
Jeffrey: yes.
Me: Jeffrey, this is honest? You read every day for the past 7 days from a book that you just checked out today? This is your chance. (please tell the truth)
Jeffrey: no, it's not honest, but I did read two chapters today, but you need to sign it.
Me: Jeffrey, if I sign it, then not only you would be a liar, but I would be a liar. I am not willing to be a liar.
Jeffrey: Mom, she's not going to know
Me: (cringe) ok. Time to talk about character. Get comfortable; after my 5 minute lecture, you will be able to tell me what godly character looks like.
Jeffrey: (overly heavy) sigh.
I realize that this is minor in comparison to what could be considered as big life mistakes. It is, however, one of the many tiny things that begin to shape character from childhood, into adolescence, into adulthood. People know us by our character. People decide whether or not to trust us based on our character. Our thoughts, our words, our behaviors; it all comes down to our character. Doing the right thing when no one will ever know that you are doing the right thing.
3 comments:
Great work, Erin. All of your kids are a testament to what a fine job you and Michael are doing with what is in my opinion the most important work we have in this life. And everyone I speak to comments on how obvious it is that you are doing a fantastic job...they are all sweet, happy, beautiful, and honest. These lessons that you allude to are so very important as the seeds that are plated now last an entire lifetime.
This particular story reminds me of Mrs. Walker's class in 2nd grade. We had little cars that had to be signed every night when we read our quotas. Every amount of time we read made the car move around the room. I was a great reader, so my car was in the front of the class...but not honestly. I signed Dad's name to the cars for about a week, when I was called in front of the teacher with Mom and Dad. They asked me point blank if I had signed them myself, and it was obvious by the signature that I had. I hadn't learned any real cursive yet, and I simply figured that a capital P had to be connected to the little A in the name "Pat". Dad, in a beautiful effort to let me off the hook and get me to stop crying when I confessed said "Mostly, I'm just upset that you wrote my name as 'Rat' ". It made everyone laugh, and he knew I learned my lesson. That age was full of those lessons for me, and there were many more over the years, but our parents put honesty at the top, and it's the most crucial element to character. Honesty with myself has proven to be the most important one as I've gotten to this age now. And I'm glad that when I look at myself in the mirror, I know that I am doing the best I can at the moment to do my part to raise my kids to be as wonderful as yours are turning out to be.
Keep up the good work.
Oh my goodness. That story about dad made me laugh because I could hear his voice as you told the story, which also caused my eyes to tear. That is such a great story.
Erin, I cannot write as fluently as Bri, But in Mo-terms... your kids are an amazing tribute to great parenting. I have learned so much from you.
Bri- that is SUCH a GREAT story... it made me laughry...
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