Do What You Say

When I was young my parents taught us kids to do what we say.
I have tried to follow this wisdom. It is a very important principle to follow.  Let me share something with you that will illustrate the importance of doing what you say you will do.
I was hired to clean dirt off of wooden boards that were owned by a farmer who lived in the same small Utah town where we lived.  The boards were used to place in the cages of the farmer's younger mink so that they wouldn't fall through the links of the cage.  Once the mink got to a certain age and grew bigger, the boards were removed until the following year.  This farmer hired me for the job but because of the monotony of the job I didn't ever complete what I said I would do.
The boards remained in a heap without any concern from me.  The farmer didn't pay attention to my neglect until he needed the boards the following year.
You guessed it, this man was in a predicament because I didn't follow through.
Do what you say and then there will always be situations that are good and comfortable.

Fair Or Unfair?

When I was a teenager, I decided on a particular weekday that I wasn't feeling up to attending school and had told my mom that I was I'll and was going to stay home from school. My mom lived by the rule that if you were too sick to go to school, then you were surely too sick to participate in any other activities on the day of the illness. There wasn't the opportunity of sudden healing once the hour arrived when school let out for the day. For some unknown reason, I thought that since there was a regional playoff church basketball game that night that she would find it in her heart to allow me to play in the game. She 'stuck to her guns' and told me that I was too ill to be playing in the game. I told her that I would not be playing in the game, only cheering on and supporting my team. (Now isn't that the biggest stretch of the truth you've ever heard?) She did allow me to go, but only as a spectator. Well, to make a long story short, I went against my word and played. Within a short amount of time, I received my second technical foul and was promptly thrown out of the game. In order to participate, the following season, I had to have permission granted from my parents and my church leaders. My parents were going to know about this incident. I went home and informed my parents of my stupidity. It was a hard lesson for me to learn. Moral of this story. Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Do what you say you are going to do...all of the time! That one experience taught me a lesson I haven't forgotten nor will I ever forget.