What does being loyal mean to you?  Loyalty can be given to people, places, ideologies and causes.  We can be loyal out of a feeling of duty or as a product of our character.  We may have been taught, as a child, to be loyal to family at all costs.  One should be loyal to one’s spouse, but is there a time when loyalty must be broken?  

If one is taught to be loyal to people who profess hate, then what?  There are so many ways to think about being loyal.  According to Merriam-Webster, loyalty implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert, or betray.

So, I ask myself, “What am I loyal to, in my life?”  The answer for me, has to do with family and friends, truth and good character.  But the most important answer to that question is to another question.  Am I loyal to loving my God, and loving my neighbor as myself?  If I use this as a yardstick to measure my loyalty, I feel that I am on the right track.

Next, I must ask, “What is not deserving of my loyalty?” Again, questions must be answered.“Does this person, place or whatever is being considered for my loyalty, give me a feeling of positive self-worth or do I feel manipulated?”  “What is the reason for this loyalty?” “What is this loyalty asking of me?”

If the answers to these questions agree with my values and convictions, then yes, I may decide to be loyal to that particular person, cause or whatever.  What it boils down to, is this.  Am I able to say that I am proud to be loyal to this?  If so I will want be a part of it.

I am loyal to my husband because we have loyalty to each other exclusively.  I am loyal to my God who is the source of life and love.  I am loyal to my family and friends.  All other loyalties must be judged by how they fit into my values, or they have no meaning to me.  In all things, consider whether loyalty to anything is life-giving and kind.  If the answer is yes, it is probably worth your loyalty.  Each one of us must decide for ourselves.  What is deserving of your loyalty?