Recently this story struck a nerve on the topic of integrity and specifically the ending quote from one of today's youth. "I couldn't live with myself if I did that." quote.
What on earth would compel one of today's youth to make the above statement? After winning his age division, Zach Nash realized that he had one more club in his golf bag than allowed by tournament rules. Never mind that he never used all the clubs in his bag and the fact that the tournament was now over and he was the winner. What would be the harm in just trying to never duplicate this error in the future? It's not like he did this intentionally. The harm would have come to his Character and ultimately as to what integrity would Zach have left in the future, but then again nobody would really be harmed now would they?. Integrity is a funny thing and both Zach and his parents should be very proud. Integrity is something we hold ourselves and sometimes other people are witness to our own self integrity. Other times and if you're a bit like me and one of those individuals who has a unique knack of being blamed or accused of things which you have no part of, it can sometimes appear the easy road is to throw integrity out the window. Can you live with yourself if you do?
Integrity is not situational and fleeting, nor have I encountered a true way to teach my children this trait, other than by example. How do you possibly explain integrity to your children, something at certain times that can cost us in the short term. Just as Zach paid the price and on his own disqualified himself from a golf tournament he had just won. How do you teach the long term benefits of integrity to our youth? Only by example and this holds true to everyone in your children's lives. It all starts with you and me.
Integrity as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary:
Definition of INTEGRITY
Read full story:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/disqualified-by-himself/
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The definition for Integrity sounds exactly like what God expects from His children. That word became a big deal from me about 5 1/2 years ago....while my divorce was pending. Ever since then, it's been something that I ache to perfect, but struggle with often. Yes...there is no other way to teach it but through example. I yearn to be a good example of this to my children. It's something that is lacking in most people.
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