Character

Well Grandchildren, I want to talk about "Character". This may be a little confusing since the title of my Blog is "Wholesome Character Traits". Hopefully your parents can explain it to you satisfactorily. Basically, I am saying that "Character" is a Character Trait :).

The type of character I am focusing on describes the type of person you are. There are different elements or traits (a distinguishing quality or characteristic) associated with a person's character or personality.


Character Defined - According to Grandpa

Character is: "The way someone thinks, talks, acts, and lives will tell you about a person's character."

To me, this defines a person's character. It shows everyone, including themselves, who they are. I am also defining what I believe to be "Good Character Traits" and "Bad Character Traits" a person can have or acquire. I am not going to talk about genetic character traits, just character traits that we can gain or lose. 

Good Character Traits

  • A Person:
    • with a good moral compass
    • with a good sense of ethical behavior
    • you can trust
    • who thinks of others often, and acts on those thoughts
    • who puts others before themselves
    • who loves other people
    • who knows the value of money
    • with wisdom
    • who wants to improve
    • who is self-reliant
    • with integrity
    • who is positive
    • who is a peacemaker
    • who is a good friend
  • There are many more good character traits, but I am going to stop here.

Bad Character Traits

  • A Person:
    • who has limited or no morals
    • who doesn't care about rules
    • who is always trying to "just get by" (this often looks like laziness but includes a lot more)
    • who spends everything they have, and more (debt)
    • who thinks of themselves before others
    • who is a bad friend
    • who wants to be associated with bad people who practice bad behavior
    • who breaks the law, (never a good idea)
    • who cheats, lies, and steals
    • who bend the rules for their benefit
    • who are negative, or complain, or whine
    • people who blame others for their lack of things, happiness, bad decisions, etc.
  • There are many more bad character traits, but I am going to stop here.

I want all my grandchildren to have as many good character traits as you can have. It speaks well of you to yourself and to others. It brings more happiness and light into who you are. People want to be around you so you. 

Character traits are something you acquire because you want to, because it's important to you.

By the way, most people have some good character traits and some bad ones. I try to get as many good ones as I can, and to get rid of as many bad ones as I can.


Examples of a person that has a good character trait.

Bob King - My Good Friend

I count Bob King as a very good friend of mine. A few of his good character traits are that he is always helping others. He thinks of others and tries very hard to help them. He is always nice to people, especially to me. We have helped each other over the years with different situations. Here is a story of Bob's thoughtfulness towards me.

One Christmas Season, Bob and I (mostly Bob) were replacing the transmission of Grammy's Audi. Bob did not always like to work on the Audi as it was a German car and it was "tightly" built, which means it was hard to work on. We had the car about 70% finished prior to Christmas but I was not able to help Bob work on it for the last few days before Christmas. We agreed that we would work on it during the Christmas holidays - after Christmas.

To my surprise, Bob showed up early Christmas Eve with his wife Mitzi and gave me the car keys to the Audi. He said he wanted us to have it for Christmas with all the running around we would do with the family. He thought of others before himself. That is a great character trait.  He has helped each of your parent's with their cars at one time or another (except Lacey I think).  He is a good friend.


Melvin and Helen Randall - People who knew the value of money

My Mom and Dad taught me about the value of money from a very early age. In their day, there really wasn't any credit. I don't believe my parents had a credit card until after all of their kids left home. They used their money wisely. My Dad did not make a lot of money, but there was enough to provide for the family if we lived frugally. When big ticket items like a car, wedding, trip, needed to happen, they often would go into debt for a short time. My Mom would work a part-time job until it was paid off.

They were able to live a good life and they were not poor. They just weren't rich either. They would make things last as long as they could. My Mom would often sew (or iron) patches onto my pants if I wore them out. They were able to buy some new cars along the way, along with some good used cars. They tried to buy quality when they could and it paid off for them. They didn't waste their money on things that were not of good value. This is a great character trait, from my perspective.

Melvin and Helen Randall - My Parents


Melvin and Helen Randall - Just as they sold their house

Grammy - A Person Who Loves Other People (especially family)

Your Grammy loves other people (especially family). She is always concerned about how people are doing. She thinks a lot of her children, who they married, her grandchildren, and so many other family members. But it doesn't stop there. She loves those she comes in contact with. Maybe not everyone, because it is really hard to love all people, but she really does try to do that as best she can.

Because she tries to help other people belong, so many people love to see Grammy. We currently serve in the Manila Temple as Full Time Missionaries. The Sisters who serve in the temple that she comes in contact with just love her. If they can't see her, they ask me where she is and if she is OK. I am including a picture of a few friends who bought her a birthday pie (apple crumble) that Grammy loves. People love Grammy, and she loves them.

Grammy loves each of you grandchildren so much. She is always talking about each of you. She also loves to spend time with you. You might think that because she is on a mission for 18 months that she doesn't love you. You would be wrong. She loves her Heavenly Father so much that she wants to follow what He wants her to do. By being a good follower of Jesus, your lives will be blessed in a way you may not be able to understand, but Grammy knows. She loves you a lot!


Grammy in High School

Grammy on her 66th birthday in the Manila Temple

Grammy loves you all (this was taken a few years before some of you were born :).






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