Keeping your words
Keeping your words
Had the opportunity to meet up with J and MS yesterday night for dinner and catching up. We spoke about anything under the sun and anything one part of our conversation automatically leads to the other. Although it was an informal time, and casual chit-chatting, but I was particularly impressed when I heard something that J mentioned ...
You see, J, MS, myself and a few others were once actively involved with the Youth Ministry of our church, particularly in the Music Ministry, where we head different sections of the ministry. Almost around the same time, we decided to step down from our position and J's agreement with the ministry leader was that she will be taking a one-year break before coming back to the ministry again. Time flies, and when that one year was up, J had happily settled for another church which she felt ministered to her more. During our conversation we were talking about this and J mentioned that she called the Youth Ministry leaders at the end of that one-year agreement and told them her decision to discontinue in the ministry due to some reasons. I was really impressed with what I heard!
I'm impressed with J still remembering what she said - the "promise" she made about the 1 year break ... I'm impressed with J's sense of responsibility to take the initiative to call the ministry leader at the end of that one-year to inform them of her decision - after all, one year is a good time for anyone to forget what has been said, isn't it? I'm impressed with J for being a person of her words - "petty" or "trivial" those "promises" might seem.
Personally, I'm quite particular about keeping my word and what I promised people - even though it could be something trivial said in a conversation - that's probably why I always end up with a long "to-do" list because I "owed" people some outstanding responses/things which I promised to do for them or feedback to them; and I'm particularly impressed by people who keep their words. You see, we speak a great deal everyday - some are just casual conversations ... some are just plain complains and grumblings ... some are just to report facts and data ... some are gossips (oops!) ... and some are perhaps promises we make to people - intentionally or just in the moment of convenience. In a world where words are so freely used, I'm "disturbed" by the fact that people treat words so cheaply, which explains why I tell myself I want to be different and for all you know, a little promise honored makes another person's day, or makes a difference to that person! Also, to me, I feel that the way you speak and respond to the words/promises you make reveal a great deal about your character - if you can be depended upon, etc ... isn't it?
I've a good friend who had also showed me what keeping our words actually meant. There were countless occasions when he promised me to do something, and lo and behold, he really did what he said he would do ... I think I lost count but some of the times I remembered he acted on his words and which just warmed my heart very much through his simple acts were probably as follows:-
1) He said he will call, and he really did - I don't have to wait till the next day or days later, or whatever.
2) He said he will check something for me, and he really did - even if it's just a trivial question that I ask or a simple request that I make.
Had the opportunity to meet up with J and MS yesterday night for dinner and catching up. We spoke about anything under the sun and anything one part of our conversation automatically leads to the other. Although it was an informal time, and casual chit-chatting, but I was particularly impressed when I heard something that J mentioned ...
You see, J, MS, myself and a few others were once actively involved with the Youth Ministry of our church, particularly in the Music Ministry, where we head different sections of the ministry. Almost around the same time, we decided to step down from our position and J's agreement with the ministry leader was that she will be taking a one-year break before coming back to the ministry again. Time flies, and when that one year was up, J had happily settled for another church which she felt ministered to her more. During our conversation we were talking about this and J mentioned that she called the Youth Ministry leaders at the end of that one-year agreement and told them her decision to discontinue in the ministry due to some reasons. I was really impressed with what I heard!
I'm impressed with J still remembering what she said - the "promise" she made about the 1 year break ... I'm impressed with J's sense of responsibility to take the initiative to call the ministry leader at the end of that one-year to inform them of her decision - after all, one year is a good time for anyone to forget what has been said, isn't it? I'm impressed with J for being a person of her words - "petty" or "trivial" those "promises" might seem.
Personally, I'm quite particular about keeping my word and what I promised people - even though it could be something trivial said in a conversation - that's probably why I always end up with a long "to-do" list because I "owed" people some outstanding responses/things which I promised to do for them or feedback to them; and I'm particularly impressed by people who keep their words. You see, we speak a great deal everyday - some are just casual conversations ... some are just plain complains and grumblings ... some are just to report facts and data ... some are gossips (oops!) ... and some are perhaps promises we make to people - intentionally or just in the moment of convenience. In a world where words are so freely used, I'm "disturbed" by the fact that people treat words so cheaply, which explains why I tell myself I want to be different and for all you know, a little promise honored makes another person's day, or makes a difference to that person! Also, to me, I feel that the way you speak and respond to the words/promises you make reveal a great deal about your character - if you can be depended upon, etc ... isn't it?
I've a good friend who had also showed me what keeping our words actually meant. There were countless occasions when he promised me to do something, and lo and behold, he really did what he said he would do ... I think I lost count but some of the times I remembered he acted on his words and which just warmed my heart very much through his simple acts were probably as follows:-
1) He said he will call, and he really did - I don't have to wait till the next day or days later, or whatever.
2) He said he will check something for me, and he really did - even if it's just a trivial question that I ask or a simple request that I make.
He's a busy person with lots on his hands, but the fact that he remembered these little "promises" just warms my heart and encourages me lots. He also goes out of his way to help me whenever I solicit his assistance. I can still remember how he helped me cleared my PC virus some years ago - not just offering steps and procedures over the phone, but coming down to my place when the instructions I followed over the phone doesn't seemed to help - it was close to 10pm already and he had just ended a meeting, and I must mention too that when I called him earlier that evening, he was in a meeting and he said he will respond when his meeting ends - and you guessed it! I really thank God for such a wonderful friend - he never once complained being inconvienced, and everytime I check with him for something, I can always be sure that he will keep his words by reverting to me when he says he would.
And yes, I remember MS said she wanted some of my NT notes (some NT terms that I've covered during my last year of study) - for her own reference and perusal. I shall forward it to her now =) And thanks, twin for calling me when you came back to town - especially when I caught you in Boston a few days ago when I sms-ed you =)
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