Love Notes for Teens: Virtues and Values

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Virtues and Values

Virtues are qualities within a person that can grow and produce good behaviors. When you grow in generosity it shows in your increased giving to others. Values are things to which we give high worth that is relative and changeable. When you were young, you valued your bike and now you value your car, and perhaps the freedom connected to both. When I was young my neighborhood valued church picnics and now my neighborhood values privacy, perhaps a reflection of diminishing unity.

I prioritize growing in virtue over giving value. Our Catholic faith helps us by defining virtues, teaching priorities, and showing them impervious to personal and cultural mood swings. The highest virtues are faith, hope, and charity as love, called the Theological Virtues. Prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude are Cardinal Virtues. The Seven Heavenly Virtues are humility, generosity, chastity, meekness, temperance, brotherly love, and diligence.

The mass media "Pass It On" spots from values.com currently highlights 83 "values" to include: appreciation, believe, caring, character, common ground, compassion, compliments, courtesy, do your part, encouragement, friendship, generosity, good manners, gratitude, hard work, helping others, honesty, hope, including others, inspiration, integrity, live life, live your dreams, love, making a difference, opportunity, optimism, patience, reaching out, right choices, sharing, sportsmanship, spread your wings, teaching by example, true beauty. While each has worth, the swelling list and blurring of virtues and values doesn't help anyone to prioritize and live out what is most important.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Love,
Mom

You are loved.

God loves you. If you take nothing else from my love notes, know that you are loved beyond your imagination. If you know this, really know and trust this love in your mind and heart, then each day you live is full of purpose and meaning, and your choices will be positive. God loves you because He created you and you are His. You are alive to know, love, and serve Him. This is the most beautiful love story of your life!

The teen years are short - 7 years out of your life. The privilege and responsibility to choose well, increases rapidly. In this time you change from a child to a one-of-a-kind adult. This change is painful and purposeful. Let this not discourage you, but rather be reassured that your difficulties are life tests. With good information, encouragement, and support, you can pass these tests with flying colors! Who do you want to be? Who do you want to become?

Bloggkeeping

*Love Notes are written primarily with my 19 year old daughter, 16 year old son, and almost 13 year old son in mind. Plus I consider myself auntie to several special teens. Love you!

*Love Notes aren't five paragraph essays. Grammar here is informal.

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