I would like to say that I have spent my entire life being kind, compassionate, forgiving, caring and sensitive to others.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Like pretty much everybody, there have been periods of my life spent in complete self-absorption. There have been many instances of bad judgment, worse choices, and words I wish I'd never said.

Each of these moments, however, provides a lesson that, if we want to grow up into any type of person we can be proud of, we take to heart. We try to do better, to be better.

Many people have found it useful to use a measuring rod for their actions. Some ask, "What would Jesus do?" Unfortunately, many times the answer to that question is filtered through some beliefs about Jesus that I don't think he would appreciate much.

So Jesus may be too lofty a moral goal for some of us. Some of us may have trouble getting that picture in our minds.

Maybe it would be easier to hear your mother's voice. What would Mom say?

If you only had enough candy for two kids and there were five kids waiting outside -- including the kid from down the street who pulled your hair -- what would Mom say about going outside with the candy? Easy. Mom would tell you that it's all or none. Mom would be appalled at the idea of you not sharing with everybody.

What if you were waiting for the school bus in a downpour, safe and dry under your porch roof near the bus stop, and that pesky kid from down the street came by? Would you leave him out in the rain? You know Mom would have him up on that porch and probably be giving him hot chocolate.

If your grandmother told you that you couldn't do something, just imagine what your mother would say if your response was, "Well, she'll be dead the next time I want to do this, so I'll be able to do it."

What would Mom say if you made fun of a neighbor who had a mental or physical handicap? What if you told her that he was a zombie who shouldn't be allowed to walk the neighborhood?

What would your Mom do if she found out that you had written nasty notes about a classmate and spread them all around the neighborhood, unsigned, no less?

As many of you reading this have realized by now, these are not random examples of bad behavior. Each of them can easily be translated into comments or behavior that occurred during the primary election campaign in Bellevue over the last couple weeks. I have been watching Bellevue elections for more than 30 years, and I can say without hesitation that I have never seen one that involved so much behavior about which so many people should be very, very ashamed.

I just hope that there will be some lessons learned before the general election in November. And if you find yourself struggling with the right thing to do, try giving Mom a call.