The Narrative of Kurt & Becky

I’ve been thinking about character often lately. Let’s start with the definition. That’s usually a good jumping off point.

Merriam Webster defines it as:  -one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual -the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation -main or essential nature especially as strongly marked and serving to distinguish -moral excellence and firmness

According to CharacterCounts.org there are Six Pillars of Character – Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship.

As a Christian, I’ve heard the term “the character of Christ” spoken often. He pretty much had the most righteous character of all time.

What about my character? What about yours?

Why is it that character is built into children, purposefully by parents, schoolteachers, churches but it just has to HAPPEN to adults?

For example, as a child everyone is trying to instill in you those six pillars (Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship). Children are taught lessons on the values of those things. They are faced with the consequences of not being a good citizen or not being respectful.

Adults are often times the ones who need these lessons. For example, people in the service industry should be treated with respect and fairness. Just because hey are a waiter or a cashier does not entitle one to be a jerk to them. AND The other drivers on the road are people with live and families; they are not just cars with faceless drivers.  People sometimes are in such a hurry in lines that they do not consider anyone else but their own needs or desires. They cheat in the express lane or cut in line in front of you. I’m sure we could all think of a million different peeves or problems where a dose of integrity and respect would be helpful.

I certainly know I am guilty of showing the a lack of character sometimes. As a Christian, I am called to distinguish myself by displaying attributes of mental/ethical traits with moral excellence and firmness. What I mean to say is. Christians are called to be different. NOT to be PERFECT. That’s impossible. I will never be perfect. We will fail to even TRY to be perfect.

What I will do: Not put myself first. Treat others how I would want to be treated. Build my character myself rather than letting it just happen to me.

“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.” -Henry David Thoreau

I encourage you to think about your character. How can you develop yours? Not sure? Well pick an area and go for it.

Just a few items below will update you on us. Enjoy.

~Effective 7 March 2010, Peter is 8 months old. Wow. He’s done so much in the past 8 months. He is a few months away from being 1 year old. But the next few months bring new challenges, exciting milestones and just plain baby stuff.

~Lately, Peter and I have done lotsa walking. I am eating right (meaning, no sweets). I did HAVE TO have a Shamrock shake the other night though. I had a small one though and I savored it because I won’t have another shake for quite a while. Believe me, I di not want to go to McDonalds, neither did Kurt. But we had to. The Shamrock shake beckoned us.

~Kurt and Peter have gotten some baby & Daddy time on the the evenings when I go to Hoag to work. I think it is great for them both and for me. It affects each of us in different ways but it all winds up being good for us all.

~Kurt and I gave Peter an AWFUL gift for turning 8 months old…… a COLD. His very first illness. It was (and still is) horrible to see him sick. I hate it. His rosy cheeks are pretty cute but I’d prefer my healthy baby. Oh and he makes this weird squeaky noise on demand with his nose/throat that is pretty awesome. Baby sneezes are cute too; but the snot that accompanies the sneeze is not.

~We’ve scheduled the surgery for Peter. I don’t really want to say when or where because this is the internet. (Stranger danger! But let me just say: It is before he turns 12 months.) I’ll mention this on facebook as the time gets closer so true friends can have more details.

Please pray for peace of mind for us until then. While we are glad to have this “end in sight” (for one of the kidneys) we are scared because of the grand scheme of it all.  Nobody wants to hand their baby over for surgery. Heck, I’ve never even had surgery (not counting my wisdom teeth extraction). I will fully admit that this is scary. At the same time, fear is a terrible time waster. I’ve seen it ravage people’s lives. I will not stand for that. God — He is higher than us all and even higher than emotions or fear or anything else. Kim and Teona recently said that there are things that you cannot determine whether they are good or bad while you are “in” it. This was a conversation about the book “The Shack.” Sometimes the situation seems bad but it turns out to be a step in the direction of good. Only God can do that – turn bad into good. Perfect example, My Mom had to hand her little baby boy off to a surgeon more than once. So she can big time understand. So we’ll trust in Him – that there is good from this in the long-run.

~I am playing uh, 8 people on words with friends right now. It is hard. I am not winning many of the matches.

~I am working on the photo archive project still. I’m getting closer to being caught up like we’re talking I am to August 2009.

~Kurt and I are doing a little ancestry project too. That is pretty fun. Interesting information. More to come on that.

Edited to add:

~bought a new car. 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid