As Good as Your Word

We live in a contractual world these days.

Everything is written by lawyers and mediated in the courts. Trust has been traded in for binding clauses, arbitration, mediation, and court orders. The battle cry in the legal profession has become, "Sue the &%#@%*'s." Gone are the days of a handshake and a promise.

I have talked and written a great many times of the great lessons we learn from our children. Here is another.

My son is five years old and has been taught since he learned how to talk that he has to do what he says and what he promises. He has to be good to his word. Of late he has been a great reminder that the lessons of the adults also apply to the parent.

On Sunday I snuck down to my office to catch up on a presentation I was to deliver on Monday. I had told Jonah that we were going to get popcorn and watch a movie together in a half hour. That was just before I went to my office. Now that he can tell time he knows when the half hour was up.

As my time ran out, I heard him call from the top of the stairs, "Dad, time's up. It's time to watch the movie." I had underestimated the time it was going to take to finish the presentation, so I called upstairs, "I'll be just a few more minutes, buddy. I'll be up soon," to which he replied, "But you promised a half hour. Dad, you said."

He was right. The words "Dad you said" sealed the deal. I had "promised" and I realized the presentation could wait. If I did not live up to my promise, how could I ever expect him to live up to his?

And so it goes. Another important lesson of life was brought into focus from someone who wears Spider-Man to bed at night.

He's right though. A critical element of the development of our character is this: We do need to be as good as our word.

Have an excellent day.