Strength and Honor

Strength and honor, two simple words yet they hold more meaning than a mere definition. The phrase is a father's creed passed down to his son in hopes to shape him into a man one day. The boy did not know that those simple words would change his life forever. Now his son has grown into a man and the phrase is now his creed. It is a constant reminder of the son's roots and the battles in the pit it has led him through.

Strength is not just physical strength; it's the mental fortitude to keep control of yourself in any pit you battle in. It's really easy to the situation you're in dictate the way you feel or act. However, that is the easy way, the weak way. More often than not it causes people to make wrong decisions or nothing at all. True strength comes from the individual who has the ability dictate their actions no matter the environment they are in. It takes courage though, courage to fight the fear that keeps you locked inside the pit, the pit of regrets and bad choices. Having a code of honor makes the courage come easier.

Honor is acting in a way that upholds personal beliefs and values. It is the mortar that holds the bricks of strength in place. My code of honor was most thoroughly defined by mission statement of authentic manhood one of my baseball coaches made. It is: Reject Passivity, Accept Responsibility, Lead Courageously, and Expect the Greater Rewards of God. Basing my actions on this code of honor has helped me make decisions that bring honor to my family, friends, and most importantly my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm not saying I have not made mistakes or brought shame upon myself or my loved ones but I have not fought a battle that I have not bounced back from. My code of honor gives me something to hold myself accountable and something to live by. It gives me a burning desire to become better as a man each day and sense of urgency to rectify my wrong doings before they take hold of me and lock me in the pits. 

All of this is the teaching my father instilled in me while he could still mold my mind. I am thankful everyday for setting me upon this path and showing me the love of God. Not a day goes by that I do not think of him or what he would do in a certain situation. I would be a completely different person if he had not taken the time to teach me the ways of Strength and Honor. It would most definitely be for the worse.

Thanks Dad.