I firmly believe in people being good gentlemen and ladies and being honest, kind and caring for all living creatures.
If a person makes a promise to do something or not to do something then it is wise to keep that promise as best as we can within our own power.
Please be aware though that if the things surrounding the promise change then the original promise does not apply anymore. Some people wanting to hold us to a promise that we don’t want to keep to due to events, people and issues changing, may try to force us to do what we no longer agree with. The situation has changed, have no guilt, go with the changes and stay hones to yourself.
Here is a simple but good example. Someone lies to us about something and they get us to promise not to do something because of the situation that we knew of then. We can only make choices on what we know – be it true or not, we still do the best that we can. It is not our fault if we were tricked into believing something that is not true and then making a promise based on those lies that they told us.
As time does by God shows us that the promise is not worthy of keeping anymore because we were deceived when we originally made that promise, and God is showing us the truth. We are now older, more educated and understand the true situation, but people are still trying to get us to keep to the old promise that we don’t believe in anymore.
Common sense would state that we do not keep a promise to a situation that has changed.
The same is if we promise to do something for one of our children like buy something expensive and then we lose our job. Clearly the situation has changed a lot and overnight, so we should not have guilt over such situations. We explain to the child that the money is to be used for needful things like food, but there is also a possibility that we may be able to go back to that promise sometime in the future when or if we are able to get the item.
Do please do the very best that you can to keep a promise made in good faith. But be aware that if the situation has changed don’t allow others to force you to do what you don’t want to do anymore.
The promise is not the same promise if the situation has changed a lot. And if dishonesty was used to make you promise anything then discard the promise immediately as soon as you find out the real situation. You need feel no guilt whatsoever.
Some people are very crafty at using guilt to hold us to situations or promises etc that no longer apply to our life. Be aware that your life is your own. And do make the required steps to “do the right thing”.
Be honourable and courageous.
All the best from J
James M Sandbrook.
21st of July, 2014,