A box of Character

Yesterday I read on my friend Jackie’s blog (http://bikewithjackie.blogspot.com) a post about keeping a kudos file. Another speaker friend, Beth ( http://www.CorporateCowgirl.com) calls it her “Fan Mail.” Whatever you call it, it’s that collection of special gifts of words given to us by friends, sometimes strangers, when whatever we have said or done created an impact deep enough to elicit a written response of gratitude. Because I speak on Character, I’d chosen to call it my Character Box. I’ve wrapped some of the pieces together with ribbon as they were related to an event I was involved in. Most just sit alone. A couple times a year, I go through them, thinking it’s time to weed them out. What I usually end up doing is just reading them all again and thanking the Lord for the blessings of being involved, having great friends and experiences that would warrant such lovely words. I am the only one who read them. But, I hope some day they are a part of my legacy. Although my children are grown and still a part of my life, they’ve never read them. And I don’t think this is the time. But some day, when I am gone and they have their own children, the boxes will be there for them to read and then do with what they wish. I hope my Character Box prompts them to write more to fill others’ Character Boxes, to strive by their good works and good hearts to fill their own Character Boxes and to know that they lives matter.

You life matters as well. Find a box, decorate it if you wish or keep it simple. and beginning today, keep your accolades in your Character Box, and leave it as an integral part of your legacy.