A list of character traits can vary greatly from one individual or organization to another.
The list of character traits your child learns in school may have as few as 6 entries or as many as 66 entries.
Business people may have ten, twenty, or more items on their list of character traits.
No matter who creates such a directory, however, one word must be at the top.
If data is not entered alphabetically, that spot must be given to the quality considered most important by the cataloger.
So let's think about it.
To what moral value would you assign the #1 spot on a list of character traits? Three Choices 1.
Trustworthiness.
Some people place trustworthiness at the top of their list of character traits.
They look at social interactions, and decide that the most important thing we can do for ourselves and one another is to be trustworthy.
Above all, this placement seems to say, we should not let people down.
While I agree that trustworthiness is vital, I must disagree with those who give it first place on the list of character traits.
Trustworthiness does not stand alone.
It depends on the exercise of other qualities, making them supersede it.
2.
Humility.
Some online resources award top spot on a list of character traits to humility.
They reason that humble people don't rock the moral boat.
They quietly do what's right.
One man writes that this is the most important moral value, especially in considering marriage, because no one likes an arrogant person.
Granted.
However, thinking neither too highly nor too lowly of yourself while taking a lower position than others in a given situation is still not the most important quality on a list of character traits.
It deserves a high place, but not the crowning place.
3.
Responsibility.
We hear a lot about responsibility, and many have said it should occupy top spot on every list of character traits.
In business, employers urge employees to be exercise more responsibility for their work.
Parents and teachers talk frequently about the need for students to exercise responsibility.
Financial, sexual, academic, business - there are many areas in which we should be responsible.
But again, this is not the single most important quality.
This is not the high moral value on which all others depend.
Some individuals think there is no moral value on which you can hang all of the others as you would hang so many keys on a key board.
Or, using the likeness of a building, they think there is no one moral value that is foundational to the others.
They agree that many interact, but consider them all equal or near equal on any list of character traits.
What's #1 There is, however, a single moral value that is basic to all: love.
The list of character traits you have may not even include love.
Many do not.
We are so accustomed to using the word "love" to describe Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Father's Day feelings that we overlook its true nature.
Affection for children and family members, youthful infatuations, and chemical attractions are not qualities to include on a list of character traits - but this kind of love is.
Love Defined Love is initiated when I seek to understand fully the person who is the object of my love.
It continues by acting to do what is best for that person.
It is important not to misunderstand and think love never does anything that might be interpreted as unkind.
It is wrong, for example, to believe that a parent who refuses to give in to temper tantrums does not love the child.
Certainly, the child may cry.
The parent may appear to be unloving, but he or she is doing what is best for the child.
Likewise, it is wrong to think that an employer who insists on eight hours of work for eight hours of pay is not exercising love.
It is in the best interest of employees to hold them to a high work ethic.
That is the kind of love to which we award top honors on our list of character traits.
Love supports other qualities.
Love for my child's teacher makes me exercise respect toward that teacher.
Love for my neighbor makes me take responsibility for keeping my dog out of my neighbor's garden.
Love for my spouse and my family makes me exercise integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, and every other fine quality.
Conclusion A list of character traits that is not alphabetical should always begin with love.
Build this most important quality, and the others will be supported by it.
The list of character traits your child learns in school may have as few as 6 entries or as many as 66 entries.
Business people may have ten, twenty, or more items on their list of character traits.
No matter who creates such a directory, however, one word must be at the top.
If data is not entered alphabetically, that spot must be given to the quality considered most important by the cataloger.
So let's think about it.
To what moral value would you assign the #1 spot on a list of character traits? Three Choices 1.
Trustworthiness.
Some people place trustworthiness at the top of their list of character traits.
They look at social interactions, and decide that the most important thing we can do for ourselves and one another is to be trustworthy.
Above all, this placement seems to say, we should not let people down.
While I agree that trustworthiness is vital, I must disagree with those who give it first place on the list of character traits.
Trustworthiness does not stand alone.
It depends on the exercise of other qualities, making them supersede it.
2.
Humility.
Some online resources award top spot on a list of character traits to humility.
They reason that humble people don't rock the moral boat.
They quietly do what's right.
One man writes that this is the most important moral value, especially in considering marriage, because no one likes an arrogant person.
Granted.
However, thinking neither too highly nor too lowly of yourself while taking a lower position than others in a given situation is still not the most important quality on a list of character traits.
It deserves a high place, but not the crowning place.
3.
Responsibility.
We hear a lot about responsibility, and many have said it should occupy top spot on every list of character traits.
In business, employers urge employees to be exercise more responsibility for their work.
Parents and teachers talk frequently about the need for students to exercise responsibility.
Financial, sexual, academic, business - there are many areas in which we should be responsible.
But again, this is not the single most important quality.
This is not the high moral value on which all others depend.
Some individuals think there is no moral value on which you can hang all of the others as you would hang so many keys on a key board.
Or, using the likeness of a building, they think there is no one moral value that is foundational to the others.
They agree that many interact, but consider them all equal or near equal on any list of character traits.
What's #1 There is, however, a single moral value that is basic to all: love.
The list of character traits you have may not even include love.
Many do not.
We are so accustomed to using the word "love" to describe Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, or Father's Day feelings that we overlook its true nature.
Affection for children and family members, youthful infatuations, and chemical attractions are not qualities to include on a list of character traits - but this kind of love is.
Love Defined Love is initiated when I seek to understand fully the person who is the object of my love.
It continues by acting to do what is best for that person.
It is important not to misunderstand and think love never does anything that might be interpreted as unkind.
It is wrong, for example, to believe that a parent who refuses to give in to temper tantrums does not love the child.
Certainly, the child may cry.
The parent may appear to be unloving, but he or she is doing what is best for the child.
Likewise, it is wrong to think that an employer who insists on eight hours of work for eight hours of pay is not exercising love.
It is in the best interest of employees to hold them to a high work ethic.
That is the kind of love to which we award top honors on our list of character traits.
Love supports other qualities.
Love for my child's teacher makes me exercise respect toward that teacher.
Love for my neighbor makes me take responsibility for keeping my dog out of my neighbor's garden.
Love for my spouse and my family makes me exercise integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, and every other fine quality.
Conclusion A list of character traits that is not alphabetical should always begin with love.
Build this most important quality, and the others will be supported by it.