VIRTUE

 

 

How do you teach?

How do you learn?

Who do you reach?

 What’s your concern

I was listening to a talk show recently. The discussion was about parenting styles.

Are you an authoritarian parent? A permissive parent? An attached parent? An absentee parent? Do you want things done perfectly so you’d rather do them yourself? Do you instill your religious values on your children or let them grow up and form their own values? Parenthood is filled with pitfalls. Most of us get on the job training for parenthood and don’t know what the results will be till the children grow up.

My  mother heard of a book by William J. Bennett  called THE BOOK OF VIRTUES. I remember her saying that they should be taught in the home, schools and used by politicians. If we all followed them, the world would be a better place.

These virtues are:

Virtues of self control

• Temperance - self-control regarding pleasure
• Good temper - self-control regarding anger
• Ambition - self-control regarding one's goals
• Curiosity - self-control regarding knowledge
• Frugality (also Thrift) - self-control regarding the material lifestyle
• Industry - self-control regarding play, recreation and entertainment
• Contentment - self-control regarding one's possessions and the possessions of others; acknowledgement and satisfaction of reaching capacity.
• Continence - self-control regarding bodily functions

Virtues of self-efficacy

• Courage - willingness to do the right thing in the face of danger, pain, significant harm or risk
• Patience - ability to delay or wait for what is desired
• Perseverance - courageous patience, integrity
• Persistence - ability to achieve objective regardless of obstacles

Virtues of regard

• Fair-mindedness - concern that all get their due (including oneself) in cooperative arrangements of mutual benefit
• Tolerance - willingness to allow others to lead a life based on a certain set of beliefs differing from ones own
• Truthfulness/Honesty - telling someone what you believe to be true in the context of a direct inquiry

Virtues of respect

• Respect - regard for the worth of others
• Self respect - regard for the worth of oneself.
• Temperance - self-control regarding pleasure
• Good temper - self-control regarding anger
• Ambition - self-control regarding one's goals
• Curiosity - self-control regarding knowledge
• Frugality (also Thrift) - self-control regarding the material lifestyle
• Industry - self-control regarding play, recreation and entertainment
• Contentment - self-control regarding one's possessions and the possessions of others; acknowledgement and satisfaction of reaching capacity.
• Continence - self-control regarding bodily functions

Virtues of respect

• Respect - regard for the worth of others
• Self respect - regard for the worth of oneself.
• Social virtues: Politeness, Charisma, Unpretentiousness, Friendliness, Sportsmanship, Cleanliness

Virtues of kindness

• Kindness - Regard for those who are within an individuals ability to help.
• Generosity - Giving to those in need.
• Forgiveness - Willingness to overlook transgressions made against you.
• Compassion - Empathy and understanding for the suffering of other

I think, that in the world we live in today, we are missing many of these virtues. I don’t think people, as a whole would be willing to give up their own wants. They haven’t been taught to be polite, have respect, be kind, and forgive.

So how do we teach our families, students, friends, companion, and strangers?

I can only hope, by example.

Choose a virtue this month and entrench it into your life. Live it. Be an example. Be a teacher