Humility
I read a quotation from Tamra's blog that she copied from Mary's blog: "Humility is not produced by comparing oneself to others or by self-abasement. . .Humility is produced by seeing oneself in the light of who God is."
It reminds me of what CJ Mahaney quoted from someone else (paraphrased): "How can anyone be proud when he stands beside the cross?" (I apologize that my paraphrase is bad and that I don't know exactly who said it!).
Anyway, while we were in California, I had a few fleeting thoughts on humility too, and vanity, and competition. We visited a cousin who had just delivered a baby by Caeserean, and as she lay there in the hospital bed, the nurse was giving her instructions right in front of us. I would have been embarrassed by them, but she was un-phased. She also was just there in her hospital gown, not well covered. I would have been vainly embarassed. But she wasn't phased by it at all. Why?
I think she has a form of humility that I lack. She is not trying to impress anyone at all by her appearance. She doesn't have a need to look like the best, happiest, most beautiful Mother-who-just-delivered-a-baby. She doesn't feel a need to hide the bodily issues that a new mother has to deal with. She is very real. We are all subject to human bodily functions, and she wasn't needing to hide them.
Her mother, my husband's aunt, recently (over the last year) has lost a great amount of weight following stomach surgery. She seems very humble too. She went from being a very large woman to looking quite normal. She is not trying to be a Barbie doll. She is just wanting to be healthy. She may have extra skin here and there, but she is not self-conscious. She is not at all trying to put herself up alongside the supermodels.
These two women stick in my mind because they are not trying to be the best. They are not motivated by vanity. They are just themselves. I think the key is that they are not trying to impress anyone. Now, they may not seem humble because they view themselves in light of the cross, but certainly if I viewed myself more in light of the cross, I would have more of their characteristics.
When I am vain, or competitive, it's just plain and simple PRIDE. I want to be the best. I want to impress someone. I am wanting people to think of me. That is NOT RIGHT. I need to take those thoughts captive and think of my Savior. To think of the cross. Jesus was crucified, and bled, for my sin. What does it matter where I measure up in the world of vanity? What does it matter if my skills are the best? If I am known as the best at anything? I should want people to look to Jesus, not to me! How foolish of me!
What a sweet relief to know the Lord and His grace!
It reminds me of what CJ Mahaney quoted from someone else (paraphrased): "How can anyone be proud when he stands beside the cross?" (I apologize that my paraphrase is bad and that I don't know exactly who said it!).
Anyway, while we were in California, I had a few fleeting thoughts on humility too, and vanity, and competition. We visited a cousin who had just delivered a baby by Caeserean, and as she lay there in the hospital bed, the nurse was giving her instructions right in front of us. I would have been embarrassed by them, but she was un-phased. She also was just there in her hospital gown, not well covered. I would have been vainly embarassed. But she wasn't phased by it at all. Why?
I think she has a form of humility that I lack. She is not trying to impress anyone at all by her appearance. She doesn't have a need to look like the best, happiest, most beautiful Mother-who-just-delivered-a-baby. She doesn't feel a need to hide the bodily issues that a new mother has to deal with. She is very real. We are all subject to human bodily functions, and she wasn't needing to hide them.
Her mother, my husband's aunt, recently (over the last year) has lost a great amount of weight following stomach surgery. She seems very humble too. She went from being a very large woman to looking quite normal. She is not trying to be a Barbie doll. She is just wanting to be healthy. She may have extra skin here and there, but she is not self-conscious. She is not at all trying to put herself up alongside the supermodels.
These two women stick in my mind because they are not trying to be the best. They are not motivated by vanity. They are just themselves. I think the key is that they are not trying to impress anyone. Now, they may not seem humble because they view themselves in light of the cross, but certainly if I viewed myself more in light of the cross, I would have more of their characteristics.
When I am vain, or competitive, it's just plain and simple PRIDE. I want to be the best. I want to impress someone. I am wanting people to think of me. That is NOT RIGHT. I need to take those thoughts captive and think of my Savior. To think of the cross. Jesus was crucified, and bled, for my sin. What does it matter where I measure up in the world of vanity? What does it matter if my skills are the best? If I am known as the best at anything? I should want people to look to Jesus, not to me! How foolish of me!
What a sweet relief to know the Lord and His grace!
posted by Biddie | 4:12 PM
1 Comments:
Thanks for your sweet words, Julie. You are exactly right. This is something that I struggle with daily. Thanks for giving me something to think about.
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