Integrity First! Service Before Self! Excellence In All You Do!

These are the United States Air Force Core Values. I spent over 23 years of my life in the Air Force striving to follow these core values. There is a reason Integrity is first, because without it everything else fails. You can’t be a true leader without integrity. Those who follow you need to trust you.

The same goes for our children, the generations that follow us. Can they look up at their parents, coaches, teachers and adult role models and see images of integrity? It’s a role we as adults have to embrace and take seriously because they are watching.

I learned this truth the hard way a few days ago. I was in the car with my 7 year old son, CA, and I missed an exit I needed to take. So I kept driving looking for a place to turn around. I came to a light with a sign saying No Uturns. There were 5 cars ahead of me and when the light turned green 2 of them made the illegal Uturn. So what did I do, I followed them and made the Uturn as well. Once I did CA said from the back seat, “Daddy you shouldn’t have made that Uturn because the sign said you couldn’t.” I replied that it was okay but he said, “Daddy you have to obey the law at all times.” He basically was telling me I needed integrity. It hit home for me and I told him he was right and apologized for taking that illegal Uturn. Nothing like some needed correction from your 7 year old son. 🙂

But that goes to show why integrity is so important. How can I influence others, walk like Christ, or be a good Father if I don’t have integrity? The answer is I can’t do any of those things without integrity. That is why Integrity First matters so much. Reflect on that as you make choices throughout this day! I know that I will!

Truth In Love! ~ Chuck