My mother taught me plenty by example, but one of those that made a very huge impact on my life is the importance of keeping your word. When she made a promise, she kept it — partly because I would throw a tantrum if she didn’t, partly because I kept nagging her until she did, and partly because it’s the #1 rule of growing trust. And she knew that. So I grew up believing that I ought to, and should, stay true to my word.
Sometimes the problem is, we can only hold fast to our ideals on a personal level but cannot expect others to do the same or to possess similar principles. We keep doing what we know is right because that’s who we are, but we can’t expect others to do the same. Because who we are isn’t who the rest of the world is. If we keep thinking that people will keep their promises just because we stayed true to ours, we are putting ourselves up for frustration.
It’s a pretty sad world, isn’t it?
No, actually, it’s not.
For even before we decide to make a promise and have our mind set on keeping it, somebody has already been faithful and continues to remain faithful to his promise to us. That should be enough reason for us to stay true to our word even if the rest of the world doesn’t; and if we are one of those who attach very little value to keeping promises, to start rethinking old habits.
“If we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.”
– 2 Timothy 2:13