A person of great integrity.

Last year, my family and I went on a trip to Pennsylvania for a Christian family conference. While there, my parents were often playing worship for the conference, and I was the one that watched my little brother. In the morning, my parents would leave early for breakfast, and I'd rally the troops (my younger siblings) and take them to breakfast. Then, my parents would go to practice, and I'd drop my little sister off at VBS and take my little brother to nursery. I'd go to the youth service and after that, lunch. When lunch was finished, I'd take my little brother to the place we were staying, so my mom could put him down for a nap. I'd have the afternoon to do whatever, then I'd take my brother and sister to dinner and then drop my brother off at nursery, and my sister and I sat in the evening service. And repeat the next day.

The last day of the conference, I was getting tired of taking care of my younger siblings. It didn't help that my friends were saying how unfair it was that I had to watch them all the time, and I was getting no positive feedback from anyone. So I told my mom so, and this is what she told me, "I know that you've been watching your little brother and sister a lot this week, and I want you to know that I'm very grateful for it. A lot of people have been coming up to me saying, 'Cecelia is such a good sister to her little siblings, I wish my kids were more like that.'"

Ouch.

Guilt rolls in and I realize that even though I didn't feel like watching my little brother and sister, I should do it anyway. Not only did it honor my parents, but it made people think about teenagers differently. Maybe my generation aren't all lazy, ignorant bums after all. On top of all that, the Bible says that we should do what's right whether or not we get praised for it. You can tell a lot about a person's integrity by the way they take praise. A person of little integrity will do anything to get people to praise them, but a person of great integrity will do what's right no matter the criticism or praise.

After searching myself, I found that I had more integrity than some, but not near as much as I should have. So I did a lot of praying and Bible reading, and God began to change my heart. Now, I could care less about being number one on the popularity scale. As long as it brings glory to God, who cares about what people think?

So what about you? Are you a person of great integrity?