Webster's 1828 dictionary defines integrity as "… The entire, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty.
"Integrity comprehends the whole moral character."
Do you and I have integrity, and are we passing it on to future generations?
Here are some questions to consider:
●Do we, as adults, always do the right thing?
●Are we kind to strangers and are we kind to our pets and outdoor animals?
●Do we use words at home that we would never use at work, in front of others or at church?
●Do we keep our minds active on things that matter, or fill them with junk food's equivalent?
●What do we watch on television or the internet when no one else is around?
●What would you do if you found someone's wallet or purse? Would you return it intact, or would you be tempted to take the cash inside?
●When you aren't charged for something at the store, do you go back and pay for it, or just keep it, and figure it is their loss?
●How gracious are we when we drive — do we kindly let others in when traffic is bad or are we aggressive bullies, letting no one get in front of us?
Bullying has become prevalent in our society — drivers, shoppers, adults as well as children bully to get their way.
Because of what can be seen on television, many people belittle and bully others sometimes without even thinking about what they are doing.
●Do you stand up for the person being bullied, or do you stay quiet and avoid confrontation?
These are just some of the situations that we need to talk with our children about — to do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Our children learn from our actions, and our honest actions will help make honest citizens of our children.
Janice Lynn Crose, a retired accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: Integrity test — 9 questions to consider