I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason and there is no such thing as coincidence. But when my daughter happened to choose to watch Pinocchio it never crossed my mind where this decision would take me. I also never thought anything of the 3 year old Readers Digest my youngest daughter brought to my mom's apartment from the laundry room after helping Nana put in some laundry. But as "coincidence" would have it I found myself with a rare few minutes of quiet while Anna was napping and Emma was watching the Disney movie Pinocchio. The Readers Digest seemed to be calling my name.
After reading a number of inspiring stories I finished by reading a very unsuspecting article by Harvard Professor Clayton Christensen called The Bottom Line on Happiness: Use the Tools of Business to Create a Life of Fulfillment & Integrity. Honestly I didn't think I would even finish the article but the word integrity caught my eye. The whole article was full of great advice, but one section called "avoid just this once" really struck me. He shared a story of how he made a personal commitment to God when he was 16 that he would not play ball on Sundays. In college he played for the Oxford University varsity basketball team as the starting forward. The team made it to the British equivalent of the NCAA championship. But the game was scheduled to be played on a Sunday. Despite the encouragement by his coach and teammates to play "just this once" he prayed and decided not to play.
As I was sitting there pondering if I could have held my convictions under such pressure, I could faintly hear Pinocchio in the background. Event though I am sure I have watched this movie many times I never really got the true meaning until now. How much hardship could Pinocchio have avoided if he had followed his conscience and not given in to temptation. Not allowed himself to be sucked into "just this once."
Emma and I had a great conversation about how Pinocchio could have made better choices but was ultimately forgiven and still became a real boy. I also realized that I have many other opportunities to show my children everyday how not to give in to "just this once."
It's times like when we get to the car and everyone is already buckled in and I realize the two year old has the bananas and we didn't pay for them. I honestly really struggled with this little test. I stood there going over in my head for a few minutes why it would be ok to not pay "just this once." But the lesson I taught them by taking the time to bring everyone in and pay for the bananas was so important. It didn't feel like it at the time though.
Our family is going through some very difficult times right now. We don't have a home of our own, or a car, and have had a very hard time finding work. I can't tell you how many times, daily it seems like lately, I have heard this voice in my head say, it's ok to lie just this once. It is justified. You are trying to provide for your family. No one will blame you.
I am so thankful for the reminder from a simple children's movie and a random article that the lessons I am teaching my children about living a life of integrity and honor are more important than anything.
I am also thankful for a forgiving God that loves me even when I fail and for His Grace and Mercy that are restored every day.
I will probably need to read the article again tomorrow for a reminder. If you are interested in reading the entire article too here is a link to the entire article.
The Bottom Line on Happiness: Use the Tools of Business to Create a Life of Fulfillment and Integrity
http://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life/
