The World of Grandpa Don

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Chose Faithfulness 

As we go through life, one of the most critical character traits we carry with us is trustworthiness or or lack of it. A person not worthy of trust it a person who is avoided.

I recently wrote my thoughts about marriage and the promise to be faithful. It is imperative to have a history of faithfulness prior to making a promise of that magnitude. I am not speaking of only being faithful to our partner, but faithfulness to our promises in general. A person who is habitually untrustworthy can not be expected to be a good spouse.

Do we have a reputation of following through on a commitment? Or, are we known to be a person who say he will do something and then does not act upon his word? 

Some commitments are specific, such as those in response to a request. We are asked to do something and we say we will. Are we always faithful to our word? 

Some commitments are implicit. When we accept a job, either paid or volunteer, we accept the duties that are part of it. Can our employer, customer, or others rely on our faithfulness to the task? 

Before embarking on a course of action we should think about our ability and willingness to follow through and if it is not possible to do so, admit the fact to ourselves and to those involved. 

When we accept a task or commitment and find we are not able to follow through, we demonstrate a faithfulness to the commitment by admitting our problem and seeking help or release from the commitment, not in abandoning it.

No commitment is trivial. Our faithfulness in every instance is a reflection of character and a measure of worth. Be reliable a person who can be trusted to be faithful to commitments and to himself.

Chose Faithfulness ...

Don Plefka
02/08/03