Character Verses Reputation

Abraham Lincoln was very concerned with the naturecharge of, and people that are in a service positions
of character, but he was also aware of thelike housekeepers, waiters, secretaries, and nurses, etc.
importance of having a good reputation. He explainedHow we treat these people truly displays more about
the difference this way: "Character is like a tree andour personal character than how we treat other's that
reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what wewe think are important.
think of it; the tree is the real thing."Those who are honest, kind, and fair only when there
In today's world that is overly preoccupied with image,is something to gain should never be confused with
it is easy to worry too much about our reputation andpeople of (real character) who demonstrate these
too little about our character. Building a reputation isqualities habitually, and under all circumstances and
largely a public-relations project, but building charactersituations throughout their life.
requires us to truly focus on our values, actions, andCharacter is also revealed by how we deal with
always following through with what we commitsituations, pressures and temptations. It is also
ourselves to on a continual daily basis. Noble rhetoricdisclosed by our everyday actions, (including) what we
and good intentions just are not enough to build truesay and do when we think no one is looking and fell
character.that will not get caught. Reputations come and go, but
I truly feel that your reputation is what people think ofcharacter will hold you through the storms of life. If you
you and your character is what you actually are!spend your time and energy in constantly building
Reputations will change with our circumstances andstrong character, you will never have to fear or be
can be made or destroyed in a brief moment, butconcerned about what others think of you.
character is built through a person's lifetime.As a Christian I know that God sees all, and that He
What we should be concentrating on is moral strengthremembers all, and is ultimately the final judge of our
based on ethical principles. Character is revealed byactions in a lifetime spent on earth. Reputation is what
our deeds and actions and not just words, especiallypeople say you are; character is what God knows
when there is a gap between what we want to do,you are. Character is not a fancy coat we put on for
and what we should do, especially when doing the rightpublic show only. Character is who we truly are, and
thing costs more than we want to pay. Character iswill be judged by accordingly, on earth as well as in
also not whether we accomplish our ambitions orheaven. If you always concentrate on building
goals in life, but how we truly live life through a lifetime.character, your reputation will build itself. Develop your
Some think that the way we treat certain peoplecharacter, and you will never have regrets.
cannot help or hurt us, like coworkers who we are in