Glenn Beck’s recent guest was John Huntsman, an American businessman and philanthropist, the founder of Huntsman Corporation and Huntsman is a member of the Forbes 400, where he is currently ranked the 47th richest man alive.  He is the father of current United States Ambassador to China and former Governor of Utah Jon Huntsman Jr. He is a Mormon.

But none of the above really matters.  What really matters is the integrity of the man.  One could be the richest or the poorest man in the world but integrity can make the poorest of men rich and the lack of integrity the richest of men poor.

What struck me and captured my attention about Mr. Huntsman was the portion of the program where the two men were talking about the importance of integrity.  Mr. Huntsman shared a story from his past that showed me just how much integrity he had.  He wasn’t sharing in a boastful way,  he was merely telling about some situations in his past where his own integrity was tested.

One such test involved tensof millions of dollars.  I believe the number was in excess of $50,000,000 give or take a few million.  He could have had those millions of dollars but his self respect and integrity would have been lost.

And so, today, is a day I’m thinking about integrity.  Today is a day I’m thinking of my husband.  My husband has integrity.  He has integrity when it’s popular to possess it and when it is not.  He has been tested and he has proved to possess this wonder character trait.

And … today is a day I’m thinking about my own integrity.  I’d like to tell you (or rather confess to you) something that recently happened in our life together.  Before you read on I want to say you may be thinking “why would I share such a private thing publicly”?  I would do so because I believe it could help someone else.   Sharing experiences, also keeps things real and shows that no matter how “spritual” a person may seem on the surface, we all stumble.  Stumbling usually occurs because either we’ve stopped paying close attention to our spiritual walk (the inner man) or we’ve become blindsighted in regard to our own personal convictions.  Maybe we’re just tired, overworked or perhaps we haven’t been carving out the all important time alone so that we remain centered and so that our minds are renewed daily.  Winston Churchill said “With integrity nothing else counts, without integrity nothing else counts.”

So?  What happened.  Just so that your mind doesn’t begin to race with curiosity, I will share that it was nothing of an illicit or sexual nature, but without going into much uncessary detail, I will tell you that I made an error in judgment.  It’s not important what it was exactly as much as the awareness that I had rationalized away an action which normally would have been handled differently and with integrity.   My husband, thankfully, lovingly and without condemnation brought the matter to my attention.  He mentioned that what I did was “not right” and that he was “dissappointed with me”, and of course I immediately felt convicted, and I also felt shame.  I didn’t feel shame so much in front of my husband, for he is intimately acquainted with my failings and loves me anyway.  No, I felt ashamed before God.  In my rush to get something done and “off my plate” I took a shotcut that proved to be careless.  Thankfully, it was a small thing, but I am reminded of God’s words in Luke 16:10 -Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot.  There are no white and black sins or big and small sins before God.  Sin, which is defined as “missing the mark” is sin.  Plain and simple.

By God’s grace, the moment my husband brought this “slip”, error in judgment, transgression … okay let’s just be honest “sinful action” to my attention, I acknowledged it, confessed it and purposed to pay more attention to the circumstances my life which can cause one to react rather than to respond.  They are different.  Reacting is negative, responding is positive.   But that’s a subject for another blog.

… and so, this Christmas, I am thankful that I personally know Jesus Christ, who is the “reason for the season”, that (when needed) I understand and can appropriate God’s grace in my life.  I am also thankful that I am married to a man who walks in integrity, who loves God and whom I can count on to lead me onward toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:14) .   This post on my blog will be one of my gifts to him this Christmas.

Merry Christmas Everyone!  and Happy Birthday Jesus.