Loyalty & Dependability

Loyalty to family, to employers, to country, church, schools, and other organizations and institutions to which commit- ments are made. Support, service, contribution. Reliability and consistency in doing what you say you will do.

Introduction

Our two adolescent daughters learned and then put into practice a simple lesson on loyalty one week. They had planned a surprise farewell party in our home for one of their friends who was moving out of the area with her family. On the day of the party three of the girls who had accepted invitations called and, with very flimsy excuses, said they wouldn't be able to come. Our girls, who had decorated and planned for the party for some time, were first disappointed, then a little angry. "They just had something better come up," one daughter complained. "Now we won't have enough people to play some of the games." "It's inconsiderate," said the other daughter. "In fact, it's disloyal and undependable."

Later that week they got invited to a party -- one that they very much wanted to attend. But the party was on the night of the regular meeting and rehearsal of an organization they belonged to, which was preparing for a production. There was no question about where they would have rather gone -- but there also was no question about the loyal and dependable thing to do.