Character, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is: “the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves.” It reflects a person’s personality; it’s a thing capable of setting apart one person from another. I think it’s fair to say that we, as humans, appreciate and are drawn to positive character traits. We seek to nurture and emulate those traits, and we realize they have the power to bring people together for the good of all people. Negative character traits have adverse effects. They stir up harsh feelings and words. They cause division and selfishness reigns.
Positive character matters.
Less than thirty seconds on Pinterest, and I found multiple,
leadership quality pins. Look up
leadership characteristics and you’ll often find a strong connection to
positive character traits. One pin
named traits relating to communication, confidence, positivity, honesty,
commitment, humility, fairness, and the ability to inspire others. We don’t develop these traits to only deal
with ourselves. Instead, we hope to grow
so that we can best relate with others in a POSITIVE way.
Positive character matters.
Parents, guardians, teachers…all caring adults…attempt to
share and cultivate these positive traits in little ones, as soon as children
can grasp what is/isn’t acceptable. We
model and encourage the benefits of choosing positive traits over negative
traits, even before a child can use words to express thoughts and feelings. Chad and I (with a whole lot of Jesus) hope
and pray we parent our boys well. We
want to use the time they’re under our roof and loving authority, to help them
become the men God created them to be.
We hope to help them practice now and see the benefits of loving,
serving, and standing up for others. We
desire for them to launch, from our home, prepared to love, serve and stand up
others. Spoiler alert: None of this training includes accepting/nurturing
ways to lie, demean, and bully.
Ah-ha! Positive character traits for
the win, again!! J
Positive character matters.
The Leader in Me qualities are taught in my boys’ school
district. You can look that up, as well, and find beneficial leadership traits/positive character traits. As a collective whole, the district sees fit
to demonstrate and help kids grow in these positive character traits. Again, lovingly teaching and helping kids
practice traits that matter now and in the future. If these traits are important to share with
young lives, it stands to reason that the traits would prove meaningful for
adults.
Positive character matters.
I cannot judge what another person truly believes in his/her
heart; that’s up to Jesus. Last I
checked, he didn’t bring me or anyone else on as a “judging what’s in another’s
heart” assistant. We’re just not
qualified, as humans to do that. It’s,
thankfully, a God-sized job. J So what can I do? As someone who follows Jesus, I can choose to
read what’s in the Bible...not looking for ways to manipulate God’s words to
fit my beliefs, but patiently asking/waiting for Him to show me what He
believes/His character. Scripture is
refreshingly relevant, as it speaks to every part of life. I can choose to hold everything up to it and
decide if what I’m seeing/hearing/reading in the world matches the Bible’s
truth. I can choose to seek wise
counsel, from trusted sources. I can
choose to take note of consistent patterns of positive and negative character
traits in a person’s life and have discernment. I can look for the good in others. I can give grace, because I need grace. However, I don’t need to be spineless,
uninformed, or excuse away consistent negative traits…in myself or in others. No, I believe there’s a higher, healthier
standard: Replacing the negative with
the positive.
Positive character matters.
I can appreciate that Donald Trump isn’t a career
politician. I like that he’s not afraid
to speak his mind, but I truly wish it was with any consistent degree of clarity, humility, respect and
kindness. I tried to give him the
benefit of the doubt…hoping he could develop some of those areas, in a
consistent way. However, I haven’t observed
improvement. There are people who claim
that he accepted Jesus, over the summer…that he’s a “baby Christian”. That may be so. Again, I can’t judge what is actually in his
heart. However, I struggle to see change
or anything that indicates publically that he’s made that decision. So, with grace, I say that time will tell. Eventually, there should be fruit. For me, a sudden declaration of salvation
doesn’t automatically qualify one for President of the United States. I struggle to trust that he’ll represent me
and others well, without having witnessed true fruit of the Spirit. I guess that’s why I’m not personally sold on
the Supreme Court reasoning, for voting for him. Currently, I can’t overlook the consistent
negative traits…the words hastily spewed, the air of superiority, the poor use
of power over people, the lack of humility, the easily hurt ego, etc. If he were to win, and if he did truly know
Jesus, I would hope to see that reflected in his words and actions.
Positive character matters.
As for Hillary Clinton, I can appreciate that she’s the
first woman that could become President.
How thrilling is it, for young girls, to see that they really could hold
that office?! I would champion her
beyond that accolade, if I sincerely felt I could trust her well-rehearsed
words/actions. Looking and sounding “more
presidential,” isn’t winning my vote.
Additionally, she and I differ on many opinions…one being that I’m not
thrilled with how she’s handled the deleted email scandal. There just hasn’t been a satisfying, humble,
clear answer for the disappearance of something that big. With her, I often have the sense that I’m
hearing one thing, but something else is happening behind the scenes. Lying isn't leading; it's hurtful. There are claims that she is a Christian, as
well. If she were to win, and if she
truly did know Jesus, I would hope to see that reflected in her words and
actions.
Positive character matters.
So, where does this leave me? I’ve done some research on how each candidate
personally communicates on the issues (vs. news stations/website links to all
manner of headlines). I’ve watched with
my own eyes/listened with my own ears to the debates (wow.), I’ve read
Scripture, and I’ve spent some time praying…a few times on my knees. I know God doesn’t hear us more on our knees.
J It was a posture I felt personally called to,
in those moments, as I prepared to hear from Him on this election. And, I really DO want stay connected to Him and hear from Him. God has a character
worthy of emulating and aspiring to; no human can ever attain His perfection
and wisdom.
Positive character matters.
I’ll most likely vote third party. I get it…they don’t have the best chance of
winning and no candidate is perfect. But
hey…anything can happen, and I’m not looking for perfection. I am looking for a consistent degree of decency,
trustworthiness, honesty, kindness, & confidence. I’m looking for a candidate with a repentant
heart, when he/she messes up. Trump and
Clinton, in my opinion, don’t embody the positive character traits I’m looking
for, at this time. I’m looking for
consistent words and actions that match what one says are in his/her
heart. I can’t help but think of Luke
6:45 (NLT): “A good person produces good
things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil
things from the treasury of an evil heart.
What you say flows from what is in your heart.”
Positive character matters.
In my heart, God has given me a peace for voting for who
best aligns with my beliefs, morals, and views.
My vote is just as well-thought out as someone choosing to vote for a
Trump or Clinton. I’m fully aware that Trump
or Clinton may very well become the President.
I don’t fear the outcome, and I’m not going to fret. God is God.
He’s PRESENT…not just watching from a far off distance, as we all
consider who will win our vote and run our country. November 9th, God will still be in
charge. He never ever changes. His character is reliable and consistent with who He says he is, in the Word. Check out Psalm 146:3-5: “Don’t put your confidence in powerful
people; there is no help for you there.
When they breathe their last, they will return to the earth, and all
their plans die with them. But joyful
are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD
their God.” I’m going to vote, all while
cherishing that God is sovereign.
Positive character matters.
If we disagree on points I’ve mentioned, can we respectfully
agree to disagree? We’re all adult enough to
vote our conscience, and mean words don’t change/convince hearts. Nobody is going to win a prize for best
Christian, best voter…best anything. J I hope we can believe the best about each
other. My relationship with others is
worth far more than whom we all vote for in this election. If you vote for Trump, my relationship with
you is cool. If you vote for Clinton, my
relationship with you is cool. If you
vote third party, my relationship with you is cool.
Positive character matters.
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