Integrity In Leadership - How We Treat Those Closest To Us

Recently, during a conversation with friends, someone wondered aloud why we are often more polite and patient with strangers than with those closest to us. It really is a great question, and one, I am sure, many of us can relate to. Perhaps familiarity does bread contempt, perhaps we feel too comfortable with our loved ones, perhaps it is a necessary skill that enables us show our best qualities to strangers so we attract more friends, perhaps we take our loved ones for granted. Perhaps, knowing why it happens is not as important as knowing it does happen and trying to change the behavior. If that is the case, it appears one author has provided us with an incredible tool to help us change: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Now re-read those words, but this time replace the word “love” with your name, and replace “it” with he/she. Louis is patient, Louis is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. He is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs. Louis does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Reading this, at least for me, is quite embarrassing because I realize how infrequently I exhibit any of the qualities listed. So, a goal of mine is to read this every day until I can add my name without blushing. I would recommend you try to do the same. Oh, by the way, if you were wondering who authored the verse above – Click Here– you may be quite surprised.