July 7th, 2026

Dear Friends,

“It seems to me a man comes into this world with a little ready raw material — himself. His folks can only give him a sort of push, and a mite of teaching, but in the long run what a man becomes is his own problem. There’ve always been hard times, there’ve always been wars and troubles — famine, disease, and such-like — and some folks are born with money, some with none. In the end it is up to the man what he becomes, and none of those other things matter. In horses, dogs, and men it is character that counts.” (Chancy; Louis L’Amour)

To continue with the “western” theme (it being Stampede week and all), which of these two statements do you most identify with (hint: think carefully; you will benefit from your scathing honesty and insightful honesty)?

1.     “You have to play the hand you’re dealt.”

2.     “I’d have done better if the dealer dealt me decent cards.”

While I’m not sure about the “horses” and “dogs,” I’m quite sure that, so far as people are concerned, “it is character that counts.” Good parents want to develop good character in their kids. Good employers want employees with good character. If you’re looking for a spouse, I’d strongly suggest that you look beyond physical qualities to those of the person’s character (At 70, I can say with absolute certainty that those outward qualities will most definitely be defaced by time and wear!). Why do we feel this way? Because L’Amour is right. Character trumps talent or beauty or wealth or popularity all the time. This is exactly what God says in places all throughout the bible.

But let’s be practical. What does good character look like? Here are some qualities that stand the test of time. A person with good character …

1.     Is willing to make a commitment and then keeps the commitment no matter what

2.     Shows up on time and works hard, doing more than expected of him/her

3.     Is kind and considerate toward others, treating them fairly and respectfully

4.     Is honest and can be counted upon to tell the truth, even when it is painful or inconvenient

5.     Puts others before himself/herself consistently and not simply when there is no choice

6.     Speaks graciously and seeks to understand more than worrying about being understood

7.     Is genuinely and consistently humble, thinking accurately about himself/herself and others

8.     Serves others constantly and seeks no acknowledgement for doing so

Obviously, these are things God wants of us but they are not qualities he forces on us. We must choose and we must learn to choose consistently. As we choose these qualities consistently, we become the person we choose, with the aid of God’s far-reaching grace.

Here’s the sobering thing: you made choices yesterday and you will make them today. Then, you will make them tomorrow. This is what our living involves. What kind of character did your choices indicate? What kind of character did they shape? What relationships did they build?

Blessings!

Doug