About Character..

“Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.” ― Abraham Lincoln

I have been thinking a lot about character and reputation lately. Abe Lincoln was a smart guy! His quote easily sums up what I believe about a person's character and their reputation, but I struggle with explaining my thoughts to others. (Thanks, Honest Abe!)

Throughout my short marriage, my long divorce, and my current happily ever after, I have worked hard to maintain my good character, to show Magoo by example the kind of person that I'd like him to grow to become. While it would have been easy to lose my temper (and I have) and tell off everyone wronging me (and I did a couple times), it is better to let those things roll off my back and continue to only do the best that I can for me and my little guy.

Who wouldn't want to do their best for that sweet little face??

I have (first world) very little right now, but what I do have is very valuable to me. My child, myself, my family, and my good friends (who have become family to me during everything that has happened in the last several years). I have an education and an opportunity to provide a home, education, and future for my son. We have a roof over our heads, food for our bellies, and clothes on our backs. I have a vehicle to get us where we need to go, and we even have the opportunity to do some fun mommy and son things together. While my life is "hard", I can easily recognize that I have it much, much, much, much easier than many others do, especially other single parents. I don't have to worry about food or shelter. If my funds run out, my son and I will be cared for while I continue to work towards my final degree and our own home. We are loved and we are safe.

Thanks to the best parents/grandparents out there for helping me make ends meet and caring for Magoo while I'm in class/internship!

This makes it even more important to me to focus on being the best version of myself that I can possibly be for Magoo. My character is of great value to me, as Magoo will eventually grow and will know me as a human, and not just his mama. I want to make sure that my character is good and beautiful. Solid and strong. Rooted, and yet growing and changing as things around me grow and change. My reputation as a loving, caring, intelligent, motivated, and thoughtful person will merely be a shadow of my true character, the real thing.

This little guy deserves my best.

This is my hope for my future and my son's future. That we would "put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and...forgiving each other...and above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in [our] hearts, to which indeed [we] were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)  That we would "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [our] mind[s], that by testing [we] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2)  And "more than that, [that] we [would] rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5: 3-5)

I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to care for, teach, and help this happy little boy grow to be a man of great character who loves the Lord and who reflects that love on all those he encounters.