Am I Loyal?

Loyalty is accepting bonds implicit in relationships. At first glance, the definition sounds a bit awkward and yet it concisely states the beauty and strength of this virtue. What type of bonds are implicit in relationships? A few which quickly come to mind are mutual trust, respect, fidelity, honesty, courtesy, and sincerity. A loyal person knows and understands that all of these are necessary to maintain healthy relationships and seeks to observe them. They also know that it extends beyond their inner circle into every aspect of their life. 

Everyone desires to have a loyal friend, spouse, employee, employer, and the list goes on. However, the real question we must ask is this: Am I loyal in all my relationships and obligations? Here is a short examination:  

• Do I honestly express my thoughts directly to others? 
• Is there any duplicity in my words and actions? 
• Am I negative and backbiting? 
• Do I fail to hold confidences? 
• If working remotely, am I working the assigned amount of time each day? 
• Do I support those in rightful authority among my colleagues? 
• Do I say one thing and do another? 
• If asked to RSVP, do I fail to respond to keep options open? 
• Have I sent a text message as opposed to calling to break a commitment? 
• Am I faithful to my commitments? 

For me, it has always been of utmost importance to have a loyal employee and the qualities which I most appreciated were mutual trust, respect, honesty, and always knowing they “had my back.”  Yes, there were times of disagreement and tension, but this led to a better decision which benefited everyone. Of course, the gift of a loyal friend is beyond all measure. “There are true friends more loyal than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).   

May we all strive to be more loyal as this virtue brings security and mutual trust to every relationship.