God, Family & Honor

[No_1]

These are the cornerstones of my life - without them I am lost. I have been blessed with a good life, a good wife and successful children. Tell me about the cornerstones of your life.

[shoot-n-lead]

My life is the same as yours...blessed beyond measure.

If not for GOD and my family...I would not be here.

Thanks for reminding me...

[dverna]

I would add...good friends.

A good dog helps too. God spelled backwards

Don Verna

[Boaz]

Cornerstones......good term ! Basics we live by . GOD and family are the most immediate , trying to fill or meet the obligations of both . Attempting to be mindful to the needs of others , trying not to be distracted by life . Being of an obsessive compulsive personality it's hard at times to pick between goals....prioritizing . LOL , lots of...'what would Jesus do?' moments .

Honor , yes . You don't even hear that word much anymore like you use to . Honor is mentioned many times in the bible .

[aspangler]

Agreed. God first, Family next, Honor always, then comes duty to country. My God is close to me and is the strength of my life. Family to support me in the hard times. Honor for God and fellow man and country. Duty to country. My oath to "protect and defend the constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic" never expired.

Airborne. "How far? All the way!"

[Blackwater]

You know, it's been a long time since I've asked myself that. Long ago, I realized that there were some things in life that cannot and should not EVER be violated, and that among these, the chief ones are pretty much as you say, No. 1: God, honor and family. So many today don't even know the real meaning of the word "honor," though. It means MUCH more than most will allow themselves to realize.

We seem, as a people in the US today, to have forgotten many of the tenets that have made us so strong and successful and so richly blessed in this world we live and work in today. We've been so successful, in the worldly sense, that it seems we've decided collectively and by default, to sit and enjoy the benefits we've found, and have abandoned the real and sometimes difficult things that GOT all these things for us. More and more, people have looked to gov't instead of to God and their own hands to provide FOR them, instead of EARNING our way in the world. And this is the death knell of every people who have ever existed and been so blessed as we are today in the USA.

We've been given a great boon in avoiding a HRC presidency, and in being given a Trump, who seems to legitimately want to restore us to our once great status in this world. But unless "we the people" return to the PRINCIPLES that made us great once, all his and everyone else's efforts will be for naught.

That, I think, is the great lesson we all have to learn, or at least enough of us to matter at the ballot box. One party seems to think they can "buy" votes by handing out more and more of our hard-earned money from the taxes we pay, and money we borrow (sometimes from oue enemies, like China!), and GIVING it to folks who are ignorant, and thus easily bought. The other seems more focused on reelection than on really serving the country. I really can't blame them from at least one perspective. Why care about a people who are so steeped in expecting gov't to do things FOR them that they OUGHT to be doing for themselves, AND who resent you even when you really TRY to do some good?

We as a people have become chronic complainers. We don't appreciate what we have, and seem to have an insatiable appetite for yet MORE! And whatever we get is never enough, or good enough, or in sufficient amounts. I worry about my nation and my people. Even rednecks, who used to be the backbone of the nation when something needed to be done, seem to have absorbed the "entitlement" theory, and no longer even TRY to think for themselves. They've always been the most independent and sometimes contrarian members of our "one size fits all" culture of our "modern" world. It seems they've been lured by the evil promise that gov't CARES about them, when in fact, all gov't ever has or WILL care about is gov't!

No. 1, I think I'd add total independence in my thoughts to your list. As far as I'm concerned, that just about completes my list of the indispensible things in our lives. Great post and thoughts. Thanks. You need to post here more.

[dtknowles]

Honor is a word with a lot of definitions. I will include the whole list but for discussion the following are I think the ones I want to talk about.

Definitions of honor

good name or public esteem (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/esteem[1])

reputation (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reputation) : a showing of usually merited (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merit[2]) respect : recognition (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recognition) <pay honor to our founder>

a person of superior standing (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing[2]) —now used especially as a title for a holder of high office <if Your Honor please>

one whose worth brings respect or fame : credit (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credit) <an honor to the profession>

chastity (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chastity), purity (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purity) <fought fiercely for her honor and her life — Barton Black>

keen (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keen[1]) sense of ethical conduct : integrity (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity) <a man of honor>b : one's word given as a guarantee of performance <on my honor, I will be there>

Of the above only 1, 5, and 6 should be considered a virtue. 2 thru 4 are to closely tied to sinful pride. Since "honor" can mean so many things, I would choose the word Integrity instead of Honor.


That said for me the Corner Stones would be Conscience, Integrity and Community.

Conscience - sort of the same thing as God, that is how God communicates with me.
Integrity - that is the sort of honor I think you are talking about.
Community - Family and the people I am interdependent with sort of the adopted family

Family comes after Conscience and Integrity, do right first, family is not always right.

For me so far Conscience and Integrity are one and the same.

Tim








The whole thing from Webster - Definition of honor

1 a : good name or public esteem (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/esteem[1]) : reputation (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reputation)b : a showing of usually merited (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merit[2]) respect : recognition (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recognition) <pay honor to our founder>

2 : privilege (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privilege) <had the honor of joining the captain for dinner>

3 : a person of superior standing (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing[2]) —now used especially as a title for a holder of high office <if Your Honor please>

4 : one whose worth brings respect or fame : credit (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credit) <an honor to the profession>

5 : the center point of the upper half of an armorial (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/armorial) escutcheon (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escutcheon)

6 : an evidence or symbol of distinction: asa : an exalted (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exalt) title or rankb (1) : badge (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/badge), decoration (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decoration) (2) : a ceremonial rite (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rite) or observance (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observance) <buried with full military honors>c : an award in a contest or field of competitiond archaic : a gesture of deference (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deference) : bow (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow)e plural (1) : an academic distinction conferred on a superior student (2) : a course of study for superior students supplementing or replacing a regular course

7 : chastity (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chastity), purity (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purity) <fought fiercely for her honor and her life — Barton Black>

8 a : a keen (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keen[1]) sense of ethical conduct : integrity (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity) <a man of honor>b : one's word given as a guarantee of performance <on my honor, I will be there>

9 plural : social courtesies or civilities extended by a host <asked her to do the honors>

10 a (1) : an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of the trump (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trump[2]) suit in bridge (2) : the scoring value of honors (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/honors) held in bridge —usually used in pluralb : the privilege of playing first from the tee in golf

[Freightman]

56 years ago two young people decided to get married, they sit down after the wedding and decided our course. We had a house one bed 9given to us) no TV, one open face heater that you could only get warm at by standing over it. No couch a (gift cook stove) a 10 year old car and no $$$. The first thing we decided was what ever we would serve God, and guess what all the other things fell into place. Why worry God will provide he takes care of the animals how much more will he take care of you. Well 561/2 years later have two old cars a three bedroom house heat and air and we are still serving God. God will provide a way if you serve Him only.

[USMC87]

My cornerstone is Almighty God first and foremost then family, I thank God for Salvation through Jesus Christ that He loved me to pay my debt of sin that I had no way of making right in and of myself. I am so honored to represent God here in this world that I live, I am so blessed beyond measure to be able to call on Him any time and He hears my petitions. I am so thankful for the wonderful family God has blessed me with, I am well pleased to be God's representative here in my home. My remaining cornerstone is my brothers and sisters in Christ from whom I draw strength, I am so blessed to have this chapel and be able to fellowship with all of you my brethren!

[Bzcraig]

Agreed. God first, Family next, Honor always, then comes duty to country. My God is close to me and is the strength of my life. Family to support me in the hard times. Honor for God and fellow man and country. Duty to country. My oath to "protect and defend the constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic" never expired.

I could not have spoken it any better brother!

[smokeywolf]

All three are stressed in our household.

The other qualities, characteristics and behavior that is talked about regularly is, love, respect, obedience and conducting yourself in a manner that neither dishonors yourself or the family.

[buckwheatpaul]

These are the cornerstones of my life - without them I am lost. I have been blessed with a good life, a good wife and successful children. Tell me about the cornerstones of your life.

Yes to all the above plus:
Friends
Always doing the right thing
and a good dog or two

Thanks for the post and the reminder!

[GhostHawk]

God yes, but I kind of take that as a given. He's touched my life many ways at many times and continues to surprise.

Honesty, Can you be too honest? If you ever lie to yourself or God not honest enough perhaps.

Image is nothing, function is all. It does not matter what I look like. God see's inside and out.

Whats on the outside will wash off, dirt on the inside stains.

I got introduced to this concept at a young age, got kicked in the knee by a heifer, dumped into a gutter full of wet poo. I mean head to foot. But, a little cold shower from garden hose, strip at the back door, wrap in a towel and head for the bathroom. A hot shower and plenty of soap and all is as it was.

But if you are doing something to hurt people, to take advantage of people, if you are sinning. That **** on the inside is going to stain. It is going to stain bad, you can try to hide it, but it is there. Only God can wash that clean.

So keep God close in your heart, be honest. Unless your going for a job interview don't sweat what you look like. Be clean, watch those stains, stuff on the outside will wash off. So dive in and get your hands dirty. Do a little for the Lord while your at it.

[Goatwhiskers]

I go to the chapel first thing every morning mostly to read the thought and contemplation threads, but I have to say this has been one of the most inspiring threads I have read. Cornerstones of my life, exactly as the OP stated. I thank God for them every day. I do want to say that I give the talk at my lodge's annual honesty and integrity awards banquet at which we honor usually 2 students for demonstrating these virtues and I fully intend to plagiarize this thread to add to what I say as my talk is aimed at these kids and also their parents and guests. GW