Today, in the U.S.A., is the federal holiday celebrating George Washington’s birthday. Many people think this federal holiday was renamed “Presidents’ Day” to celebrate the February birthdays of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. This common misunderstanding is probably due to the commercialization of the day as “Presidents’ Day”, and the official celebration under that title by twelve of our fifty states.
The fact is, however, that only President Washington is commemorated by this federal holiday. George Washington’s date of birth was February 22, 1732. Abraham Lincoln’s birth date was February 12, 1809.
I received an e-mail in honor of Washington’s birthday. It bore this single, meaningful phrase: “Put first things first.”
It wasn’t a new thought, and the e-mail did not elaborate or suggest possible answers, but it did make me stop and think about the “first things” in my life. It made me take stock again. What things are most important to me – so important that I believe I should put them ahead of everything else?
Character is one of those things, and not simply because I write books on character. Even if I had never authored one book on the subject, moral excellence would be very high among the “first things” in my life.
Character’s true place is, to me, that of the second most important thing in any person’s life. Educators who have taken my free e-Course, Character Education 101 know how strongly I believe in putting character among life’s top priorities. When you stop and think about it, character education is the single most important course most schools offer. Without it, other courses are mere preparation for potential lives of immorality. I don’t plan to re-teach here that lesson from Character Education 101, but it bears consideration.
Character’s true place can be likened, in part, to that of an umbrella under which our daily lives are lived in safety. If we have established that umbrella firmly, and use it consistently, it can ward off many dangerous elements. It can keep us safe from the dangers of illegal drugs, and the culture into which such drugs lead. It can keep us safe from sexually transmitted diseases, and the other heartaches of sexual irresponsibility. It can protect from a number of sicknesses, and hasten healing when sickness does strike. There are many ways in which moral excellence can protect us and provide safety.
Character’s true place can also be viewed, in part, as a bank vault that keeps our money safe. Many character traits combine to help us earn the money we need, use our money properly, and save money.
Character’s true place is very high because character impinges on all that we do. The strength of our love, responsibility, faithfulness, respect, integrity, and other traits determines the direction of our lives to a very great extent. The exercise of character by a man or woman, boy or girl, is life-changing.
As our nation today commemorates George Washington’s birthday, we would do well to give character high priority, and remember our first President’s words: “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?