Project 31 Day 9: Virtues

Day 9.  What virtues do you value in yourself?

This question is very important because there are standards that I hold myself to.  There are things that I have been taught from a very early age that have stuck with  me and that I carry and cherish  as precious items in need of protection.  

The first virtue that I value in myself is compassion.  Compassion is one of my God-given gifts that has made me who I am today.  Compassion is a central theme in my career and in my life.  I have a heart for people and have grown up serving others.   My dream is to one day become more involved with mission work, especially with women and children.  One of the definition's of compassion says that compassion is "a cornerstone of greater social interconnection and humanism...regarded as part of love itself".  I love the thought of it being a cornerstone of our social interactions.  We should show empathy for one another, being so connected on a level that makes us feel what others feel and react accordingly. The Lord says in Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  I want to clothe myself with compassion  so that it is seen from the outside to those whom I come across.  I want to be a compassionate wife, counselor, mother (eventually), friend, co-worker, etc.  Compassion drives me and makes me continue to reach out and build relationships.  It encourages me to continue to encourage others in our daily lives made of struggles and triumphs.

 A second virtue that I value is my sense of responsibility and commitment.  This is a virtue that my parent instilled in me from  an early age.  When you commit to something there is no backing out.  Commitment comes with a sense of responsibility.   Being responsible means you are held accountable for the commitments you make.  I take my responsibilities very seriously and I believe it has gotten me to where I am today.  People know they can count on me to be there when I say I will.  Being responsible is essential for being an honest, committed, dependable individual.  I have taken  my responsibilities too seriously at times, leading to stress and concern, but I believe this virtue has more pros than cons.   

 

A final virtue that I value in myself is self-respect.  I am a bit of a feminist for those of you who don't know me that well.  I took a couple of classes in college and it just fueled my fire that was already starting at a young age.  Now, I am not one of those bra-burning hippie type feminists but I do advocate for women's rights and want women and young girls today to have a sense of self-respect.  I am too good and too cherished to be disrespected, stepped on, or thought of as less than worthy.  Growing up I was probably looked at as a goody-two-shoes because I was not willing to change my standards to fit in.  I stayed pure until marriage, I didn't have a sip of alcohol until I was 21, I have never tried pot, and I don't flaunt my goodies.  This is not to say that this is the path that leads to self-respect, but these were the standards I held for myself and how I wanted to respect myself.  I believe self-respect looks different for everyone because we all have different values and beliefs.  However, I want to value myself and know what I am worth because I am a child of the living God and I was fearfully and wonderfully made.  

What virtues do you value in yourself?  How do you incorporate them into your daily life and your walk with Christ?