I Promise!
“I promise.” These are such important words to me. I, however, have learned the hard way that these words sometimes mean nothing to others.
My husband promises to do this or that. He doesn’t. When I remind him that he promised, he’ll promise again and even give me a target date for fulfilling his promise. And, guess what! He again misses living up to his promise. This has been going on for more than 30 years and I should be used to it, but I’m not. To me a promise is a promise.
Friends and family members make promises that they never keep. To them, their promises are just words that they think I want to hear so they say them. I’ll give them the benefit of a doubt. I believe that they plan to keep their promises when they make them, but, most times, if keeping the promise is inconvenient or just lip service, the promise goes unfulfilled.
The first definition of “promise” in Webster’s College Dictionary is “a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc.” If I promise someone that “I will” do something, I do it even if means that I have to put the rest of my life on hold. To me, keeping one’s word—promise—reflects the true character of a person. I want to leave this world known as a person of good character.
I’ve tried to instill this attribute into my children and, for the most part, they have lived up to their promises. They, however, have joined the masses at times in reducing “promise” to a word and not a positive action. Because of this, I try to reinforce another principle that I firmly believe in: think before you speak!
No one, me included, would be that upset if a person is honest and says they can’t make a certain promise. Sure…initially I’m disappointed, but, in the end, I appreciate that I shouldn’t plan on that person doing or giving me something. I can move on without waiting for a “promise” to be fulfilled.
The second definition of “promise” moves this word and the person who makes and keeps a promise up to a new level. It is “indication of future excellence or achievement.” It means that a person has promise. To me, if a person makes a promise and keeps it, they truly are “excellent” in my eyes.
I’ll continue to make and keep promises. This is important to me. And maybe, just maybe, keeping promises will become important to those around me. If so, they, like me, will discover to true meaning of the word “promise” and the joy and satisfaction that comes when actions back up the word. It’s a great way to live!