Sue Head, Executive Director, of the The Keeter Center for Character Education sent out the following email on the “First PLACE! Characteristic of the Month” for January: “Commitment:”
Happy New Year! The First PLACE! trait of the month is Commitment – being true to your word and what a wonderful trait to teach to our area children.
I was discussing the trait of the month with my assistant, Amy, and she immediately shared a story that exemplifies the value of focusing on developing character in young people. They don’t get it by osmosis but consistent reinforcement like that demonstrated in the account below:
The New Year is always filled with commitments, resolutions, and goals. It’s the perfect time to reevaluate what we do, and how we do it. I remember strongly a conversation in my home during my high school years. My dad, who was a quiet yet hard-working giant of a man, sat at the kitchen table reading the newspaper one morning. He turned to a full-page ad that had used their prime space for one large message: “Don’t Promise What You Can’t Deliver.” My dad ripped the page from its section and turned to tape it onto our refrigerator (the message center of our home).
For years, that newspaper ad glared at my brothers, and at me, as we made decisions about what to do and say. Occasionally, my father would quietly remind us of our commitments by simply turning from his seat at the breakfast table and pointing to the ad on the refrigerator. Don’t over-commit. That’s a different warning than to avoid commitment altogether. Instead the ad (and my dad) seemed to scream to be true to your word. Be a committed mother or father, a committed worker, a committed volunteer. But don’t fall into the trap of saying yes to something you can’t do. Think about what you can do…dream big dreams, and then get out there and do it.
Another prime example of commitment in this community is Loaves & Fishes. How inspiring to see groups sign up and take a night to feed neighbors in need. In order to feed 160+ folks each night, each team demonstrates their commitment by showing up, cooking, serving, and cleaning as they had given their word to do. The organizers take the team leaders at their word and trust that the team will do as they said they would do, and over the past three years over 20,000(!) meals have been provided through this commitment process. There are actually eleven nights still available this season (Jan. 3-March 16) that need a team of six to twelve folks to provide the meal. Please let me know if you are interested in taking a night.
As always, thank you for your commitment to First PLACE! and to the children who call Ozark Mountain Country home.
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