What is it that gets you up in the morning? Today, for me, it was this word. It’s been on my mind for a couple days, just stewing around in my thoughts. What is accountability? Accountability is about showing up. It’s about giving an answer for your actions. It’s claiming your responsibility.
How accountable are you? Is there anyone you report to? Anyone you are responsible for? Can you just do whatever you want without any consequences?
Society has a set of laws we follow to keep peace and order. The police are our accountability partners. The Bible has a set of commandments we should follow to live a Christian life. We are accountable to God. If you are trying to lose weight, there are things you must do to shed pounds, like exercise and diet. We hold ourselves accountable to reach our goals.
Some people have the discipline to accomplish their goals. Some people don’t. Some people need a little help to keep them accountable.
I think that in our culture, no one has to be accountable anymore. We have gotten so comfortable and lazy that we don’t think we have to answer to anyone. We can do whatever we please and say whatever we want and if you don’t like it, well, then you can just kiss mine. Am I right? (It was hard for me to type that sentence and even harder to leave it in! But I’m trying to make a point. Lol.)
Politicians and government are out of control. Social media is out of control. Hollywood is out of control. Newspapers and reporters are out of control. God is still in control but a lot of people have walked away from Him. Throw in a good pandemic to stir the pot, and you’ve got chaos.
Being accountable is an admirable trait. Taking responsibility for our actions is even better. For we do have to answer to someone. Even if we aren’t aware of it. We will all have to answer to our creator, God, one day. We will have to account for the things we did and didn’t do.
So let’s begin with a little self-discipline. Let’s hold ourselves accountable. Let’s claim responsibility. There’s a great saying, “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” Let’s reach out to a friend or neighbor and help them be accountable. Let’s put down our phones for a little while and stop adding to the noise on social media and start working within our own families and friends to make this world a better place by adding a little peace, love and joy.
Is there anyone to whom you can be responsible? Are you a parent or grandparent? A spouse? A neighbor? There’s where we can start. It starts with each of us. We must learn to be accountable ourselves. Show up and do the right thing. Then we can help each other and future generations to learn accountability. Let’s teach them how to serve God and their community. Show them how to be good citizens and appreciate their freedoms. Let’s speak up in love to hold others accountable. Speak up peacefully before peace is gone.
God bless.—Barb
