Allegiance, faithfulness, and obedience are just a few words to describe loyalty. Most of us are extremely loyal and devoted to whatever it is we truly care about…God, family, friends, our employers, and our country. But, is it possible to be truly loyal without first being loyal and devoted to ourselves?
Taking care of our emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical well-being is one of the most difficult things to do. Why don’t we show the same allegiance to ourselves that we show to say, our favorite sports team? We have every fan item, never miss a game, and support them in victory and in loss, but are we not just as important? As a child or teenager, we overlook these things because we are young and energetic. As a parent, we forget about ourselves and always make sure that our children are taken care of first.
It’s imperative to remember that a child or teen watches everything that we do as a parent or role model. If you are faithful and loyal to God, they will most likely be; if you are a dedicated employee, they will most likely be; and if you are a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, they will most likely be. The same also goes for other things that are not as positive. If you smoke, they will most likely smoke. If you drink, they will most likely drink. So, at the very least, don’t do it around them or better yet, don’t do it at all!
In the words of Shakespeare, “To thine own self be true.” Know that you are worthy of your own loyalty. Be loyal to yourself and your young ones will follow. It’s damn true!
