Monday Motivation - Integrity

Hello friends!

Today I'm sharing some thoughts I have on the topic of integrity. It's been a subject my husband and I have been talking about lately and I think it's one of the most important characteristics one can have.

As many of you might remember, my husband was fired from his job last year, for reasons they couldn't even trump up. After 8 1/2 years serving as the boss, making all of his goals, getting bonuses no one else was getting and no deficiencies from the state, they just said "You're done." And that was that. Since then, many of his employees have walked away, due to him leaving, and have said that they would love to work for him, wherever he goes next. This is a testament to his integrity.

He has since been working for someone who hired him based off his reputation alone...as a good man. He will start a new job next week, back in healthcare, based off his reputation and integrity. They trust him and trust his track record.  All of these things speak of his integrity, his work ethic, and the way he treats people. These are the things that matter.

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of ours, who went on a job interview recently. He was subject to the modern interviewing process; being asked how he would handle certain social issues. His answer was that he would handle them the way he handles his current job situations...as a man with standards. Who knows if he'll get the job, based off his answers, but what he communicated to me was this: "I told them I would be myself." And I applaud him for that. 

If we can't be ourselves - if we have to fake our way through something - then we create a lie we have to maintain and that's not easy to do. Nor does it speak of integrity. In other words, if we are one way at work and another way everywhere else, we lack integrity, in my opinion. 

As my husband and I talked about this recently, I was reminded of my dad and sadly, his funeral. Yet, it wasn't all sad, because the church sanctuary was standing room only, with not even enough seats to hold everyone from the town that came to say goodbye. You see, my dad was a man of integrity. He was friendly and he would help anyone who asked him. He built a reputation for himself - one based off of his willingness to lend a hand. He was a good man and it showed at the end of his life. People stood up and told stories of the times they had a need and my dad was there to help. What an amazing testimony. 

You see, in the end, all that matters is who you were to the people in your life.

It won't matter what your job was, how many nice cars you had, how big your house was or your bank account. No one will talk about those things. What they will talk about is how you treated them, how you did special things for them, how you made them feel, and your character. 

So what's the point of today's post? 

Well, as my husband gets ready to start his career in healthcare once again, I have been encouraging him to be the man he's always been, but even better. Because he's working for the Lord, not men. His courage comes from knowing that the Lord has taken him on this little detour and because of that, he has seen the results of his character in the community. Doctors have stood behind him, employees have stood behind him, new people have hired him, and the Lord has shown himself faithful, once again.

Jobs come and go, but that's ok! If we work like God is our boss, not men, then we will do the best job we can do, to please the best boss there is! And that creates integrity. Pure and simple. 

I hope this inspires you to reach for integrity in whatever you're doing today. Whether you work outside the home, are a full-time homemaker, change diapers all day or maybe you're the boss of your own business...whatever you do, do it as doing it for the Lord and you will be building yourself a reputation that will go before you in the best of ways. 

"You already know about his excellent reputation,

since he has served alongside me as a loyal son in the 

work of ministry. 

After I see what transpires with me,

he's the one I will send to you

to bless you."

Philippians 2:22-23 TPT

Until Next Time...

Blessings!