The little boy perched on a chair by the window, anxiously watching every car that drove by. It was Friday. Friday was the night daddy was supposed to pick him up. Three hours passed but he refused to move. He knew, he BELIEVED daddy would come this time. Daddy wouldn’t tell him later “sorry son, something came up”.

But something did come up on this night. The little boy with the tear stained face finally fell asleep in the chair. His father was giving him a good lesson in what personal honor was not.

Personal honor defines who a person is. It’s the evaluation of their trustworthiness based on their words and actions. Honor, or lack of it determines a persons character. It shows the color of their soul. Honor includes honesty, fairness, integrity, compassion, respect, and the courage to stand up for what is right.

We can never have personal honor without a high regard and respect for ourselves. “Self pride” is entirely different. Self pride puffs us up, makes us arrogant and selfish. Respect and regard for ourself brings forth humbleness. We see human nature for what it is and strive to walk a higher path. We get to the point where we realize we are all in the same predicament. It’s called life. How we choose to live it, our words and deeds- these are the only things we will take with us when we leave this world. Hopefully we will have the absolute knowledge that we have lived our lives well and with honor.

Transparency is a result of personal honor. Are our words and actions, our beliefs and values the same when we are alone as they are when we are with others? Honor doesn’t wear a mask.

America was conceived in a womb of personal honor. This was so important that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence: “and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our Sacred Honor”.

Honor is what a person owns. “My honor is my life, both grow as one.”

My dad made a vivid impression on me when I was a child. When he made business deals with someone the signature was a handshake. No contracts, no promissory notes- just a handshake. “A man’s handshake is his bond and that’s good enough for me”. It was good enough for others too. Dad didn’t know a man he couldn’t call friend. By example he taught his children the value of personal honor.

We might do well to examine ourselves sometimes. Dig down deep where our roots are. In our world much evil has been sugar coated to look good and much good has been colored as evil. But if we listen to the still, small voice that speaks to us in our conscience we will know the difference and live accordingly. Personal honor will shine through all we say and do.

C.S. Lewis may have stated it best. “We laugh at honor and then are shocked to find traitors in our midst!” These traitors produce the fruits of nobility of soul, scorn of meanness, virtuous conduct, and personal integrity. These traitors are the ones remembered through the ages as having personal honor. May God grant us the grace to be one of them.