What a Classroom Joke Teaches About Character
An English professor was one day discussing the power of words with his freshman class. He emphasized the importance of a rich and extensive vocabulary. He said, “Use a word 10 times and it will be yours for life.”
As he continued his lecture, a young man in the back row closed his eyes and was heard whispering under his breath: “Wendy, Wendy, Wendy, Wendy, Wendy….”
Ah, yes, if only some simple exercise or incantation would give us what we wanted.
It can never be. But we do need to remember this. There is power in claiming something for our own. The professor was right about language. We build our vocabulary by claiming and using words until they are a part of our language bank.
How Everyday Habits Shape Christian Character
It is also true with the shaping of character. If we claim gentleness and practice it, we will become gentle people. If we commit ourselves to truth, we become persons of integrity, and folks will trust us. Paul, at a pivotal point in his letter to Rome, reminds us of our hope in this truth:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5, NIV)
Character Formation Is a Gift of the Holy Spirit
God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Not a given, but a gift we receive when we abide in Jesus. Remain in Him and character formation will be yours.
The use of words builds our language bank, so also the virtues we claim and practice build our lives in Jesus. May His name never be far from our lips.