When I design t-shirts, I make sure that I only use licensed software, and a licensed font, or at least the royalty-free ones.
Whenever I use stock photos for my articles, videos, or background music for my vlog, I make sure they are royalty-free. If it requires credit, I give credit.
When we opened a business, we registered to get an e-Commerce license to do things the right way.
Even though I still falter at times, this is how integrity is becoming a way of life in our family. I was attacked on integrity in the past and had to learn my lessons the hardest way. And thanks to his amazing grace, God has saved and brought me up to strive with integrity, no matter how big or small the situation I may be in.
Leading by example
Every time I am in a ‘negotiating’ situation, I always get reminded to think about my kids. Kids? Yes! What would they take away from me as an example?
Last week, we went to an ophthalmologist to have my daughter’s eyes checked. Here in Dubai we’re enjoying zero pay on all our medical needs for quite some time now. So when her checkup came out good, she was not prescribed to wear a graded lens. Instead, she was advised to wear protective eyeglasses.
So we inquired in one optical shop for a pair of specs, but since it’s a no-grade prescription, it was not covered by the insurance – and it was costly.
However, the guy from the optical shop said he can make it appear like a graded prescription in the bill, so we could get covered. Sounds like a good deal huh! While I appreciate the gesture, that didn’t sit well with me and my wife. There was an instant conviction – especially on her. We talked about it for a minute and we refused. We paid for the eyeglasses.
Winning in the right battle
In another instance, we availed of a basic spa package in a hotel. In one of our visits, I forgot to bring the membership card. I told the attendant, we only paid for the basic package. She said she will ‘secretly’ give us the higher package for that session and she won’t tell her boss about it. Again, we appreciated the offer, but we refused. We would’ve taken it had it been an honest complimentary offer in the beginning – but it wasn’t.
In another, a parking attendant was not on his post and I needed to leave. Looks like I can get away free! But, alas, I opted to leave my payment on his desk before driving away.
Sometimes, being in the ‘losing end’ is actually winning. It is always important to win the right battles.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
Proverbs 10:9, among other messages in the Bible, is always a great reminder
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
And when your thought process is always right, it’s much much easier to set an example to everybody, especially to our kids.
We cannot demand honesty and integrity if in little ways we compromise them. The best way to preach integrity is to practice it even in the smallest of things, even when no one is watching.
