... for the sake of just that, honesty! I deal with people honestly and rationally, I expect the same in return. I am disappointed and frustrated when that doesn't occur. When my children were little and they wanted something, anything, I would listen to their requests and they would have to listen in return to my response. That's the way it was then, that's the way it is now... from a very young age they knew that they were being heard but they didn't always get what they requested. As adults they have learned to deal with similar situations, be they personal or professional, and move ahead. They are trustworthy, honest, rational adults and I am very proud of them. If an individual behaves in a dishonest and irrational manner with me I am forced to take a step back and wonder how in the world this person was raised as a child, I have little tolerance for this in adults who should know better. I am reminded today of Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians, chapter 4, verses 1- 2: "Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning, or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." If we are not true of heart and clean of conscience then how can we face the cross on Friday, or better yet, the empty tomb on Sunday and profess to understand?I don't think we can.
Life is Good!
Life is Good!
3 comments:
Well said. The world would be a better place if all practiced this.
I can shed a little light on your pondering "how this person was raised as a child." I grew up in an abusive home and learned very early on that what was fact wasn't anywhere near as important as WHAT MY MOTHER WANTED TO HEAR. I knew from as young as six or perhaps even younger that the real explanation, or what I thought, didn't matter at all. I needed to figure out what she wanted me to say and then say it. This got confusing as I entered other venues and found that there was one definition of truth at home and another definition elsewhere. I was in my mid-twenties and married and out of that house before I really sorted it all out.
Honesty is very important to me as well. But I'm not quite so sure we can blame it all on upbringing if it is not present, although I am sure it has a lot to do with it. Some people learn in "real life" that they can get away with more things with lies.
There's that "it's better to ask for forgiveness later than to ask for permission first" mentality.
Just yesterday, I heard someone explaining to a kid that sometimes you foul a person (basketball) if you think they are going to get a basket, so that they can get foul shots and have a chance of not getting the basket. This wasn't a lesson on integrity - taking measured risks -- but it certainly could be translated to one.
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