I Pinky Promise
I love having those intimate, one-on-one times with my grands. Many times they are unfiltered and they say what they think……and they say what they shouldn’t think! I’ll see their eyes pleading with me “Nana, please don’t tell anyone I told you that!” And I reply with action “I won’t. Pinky promise!”
The pinky promise (or pinky swear) is a custom often done by kids who interlink their pinkies as they exchange a promise. But it originated with Japanese mobsters as the highest form of all promises when a wronged party may sever the pinky of the promise breaker. YIKES! I remember saying “I cross my heart, hope to die, stick a thousand needles in my eyes….if I break my promise.” Other’s say “My lips are sealed!” Oh, the latter is so less harmful to our well-being. I think that’s the road I’ll travel!
But what if we didn’t even need any of those clichés or quotes? What if our word was so good that a contract wasn’t needed or any other agreement because our word could be taken to the bank? God’s Word has this to say about a promise or a pledge:
~ Numbers 30:2 “If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”
~ Matthew 5:37 “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”
Simply put, those scriptures mean our word is sacred. I know this shows my age – back in the good old days, but when I was growing up, a promise and a hand-shake were all you needed. Contracts weren’t really necessary and it was an insult to insist on one. Why? Because a man’s word was his bond. No one was willing to risk their reputation by breaking their word. But as a real estate broker for many years now, if there’s anything I know – contracts and agreements are essential to bind parties together – signed, sealed and delivered. Because not all men or women treat their “word” as sacred.
But in our desire to be a devoted follower of Christ, who set the example of honesty and truth, we want to emulate Him and be known as one who is as good as our word! Role models who show what character, integrity, and honor is — is what our generation needs today. You see, what we tell others through our words is what they’ll come to believe about us. If we say we’re going to do something, then we’d best follow through as people will judge us not only on what we say, but on what we do. If we accomplish what we say we’re going to do, then our words hold power in the future… we gain the trust of others.
Words, in essence. become a perfect reflection of our character in a positive light — our actions will even speak louder than our words. People will value what we say and do. Somebody once said “You are your word” and it is so true.
I’m purposing to be a Promise Keeper – pinky promise, cross-my-heart, lips are sealed – my word is good. How about you?