Dependability

This week, I want to talk about a virtue that I’ve been struggling to uphold despite its importance.

I want you to picture your ideal self… The person you are striving to become. They may be kind, or courageous, or smart, or honest, or strong or whatever you would like to see more of in yourself.

When I do this exercise, there is one virtue that sticks out:

Dependability.

I picture myself being the guy everyone can depend on. The guy who always keeps his word. The guy who is reliable. The guy who speaks the truth. The guy others go to when they need help or advice.

And honestly, I’m not spending enough time nurturing this trait despite the fact that I hold it in high regard. But why do I value it so highly in the first place?

To me, being dependable means that what you say and what you do align. If you say you’re running a marathon this summer, you will. If you say you’ll help a brother out, you will. If you say you’ll be at Sarah’s tea party at 6 on Saturday, you’ll be there.

Essentially, you do what you say you’re going to do. And if you live this way, other people are able to depend and rely on you, which builds trust. And building trust is a foundational element of strengthening relationships and serving others.

Instead of making promises I can’t keep, I’m striving to be straight up with people if I know I can’t do something or go somewhere. This has been difficult in my life because I don’t enjoy saying no to things, although I recognize it’s necessary. This way, people can know that I mean what I say.

Besides the many benefits it has for other people, being dependable also is beneficial for yourself. By being a man of your word, you can lean more fully into the life God has called you to.

This is what I’m focusing on this week, because this area of my life could use some work. And since I look up to those who are dependable, shouldn’t I aspire to be the same?

If you feel the same way, I urge you to focus on this virtue throughout your week. It may be more important than you originally thought.

Keep making progress. Change for the better. Live the Heming-way.

Til next time,

Trevor