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Let your yes be yes and your no be no
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When you tell someone you’re going to be somewhere or do something, how likely is it that you’ll follow through?
You might not think it is any big deal, but it is.
I know someone who tells me she’s going to do something or be somewhere and immediately, I say to myself, “We’ll see.” Nine times out of ten she doesn’t follow through.
It matters. Not because her actions impact me directly, but because she’s not who she says she is.
I have another friend who is late. Not just a little late, but very late. If she gives you an estimated hour of arrival, you really do need to add 4+ hours in order to get an accurate time.
Another person I know makes promises with the best of intentions. You can count on this person to ultimately do it, but events never transpire like they say they will.
In the time of Christ people were notorious for making oaths and breaking them. Jesus came along and simply said be people of your word – he knew it was important to be people of integrity because others are watching: "…let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes,' and your ‘No,' ‘No.' “(Matthew 5:34)
For the most part I try to be true to my commitments. If I am uncertain whether or not I can follow through, I say so. If I tell someone I’m going to pray, I try to do it right then.
I never realized the significance of this until one day a woman I admire said to me, “You always do what you say. If you tell someone you’re going to loan them a book, you bring it the next day. If you say you’re going to call, you do.” She told me it made such an impact on her and she was going to try harder to be the same way.
Now understand, this is a woman who is generous beyond belief. She literally gives people the clothes off her back. And she has a heart so big I think she’s been a missionary on every continent.
And here she was telling me that she noticed I followed through on things. Here I was wishing I could make a big impact for Christ, and she noticed a little thing like that.
Ever since she mentioned it, I try all the harder to let my yes be yes and my no be no. What about you?
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