Humble or proud? Your choice!

I woke up this morning thinking about humility. I can’t shake it today. I had this urge to dive in and study it. I so want to live a life of humility and honor. Honor to other people. Honor to God. Honor to my family and friends. I want to be an humble person, not a person who always has to be right. Not a person who can’t say I’m sorry. Not a person who can’t see my wrongdoing in a situation. Not a person who only thinks about myself, and never about those around me. What does being humble mean to you? Preferring the other person, not being full of pride, not being selfish, taking responsibility for your actions, being grateful, seeking to add value to others? I read earlier that false humility is pridefulness in disguise. I pray that I never have a heart of false humility.

I don’t believe there’s any area in life that one shouldn’t show humility. Leaders should be humble. They should not think too highly of themselves, or their position. They should want the best for those they serve. They should want them to learn and grow, and live up to their potential. They should treat people with respect at all times. Someone who is not an humble leader only thinks about themselves, and what those under them can do for them. It’s a me, me, me mentality, and they never earn the trust of the people beneath them. An humble leader will get down in the trenches with anybody and work right beside others. They’re not afraid to get their hands dirty. That’s how much they believe in the cause, and in the people. A great leader wants as much for those under them as they want for themselves. I believe in the time we are in right now, there’s a real opportunity for great leaders to step up and make life long differences in people’s lives. There’s a real need for humble leaders.

What about in a marriage. What does humility look like in a marriage? Being able to say I’m sorry. Being able to say I messed up. Being able to say I’m not perfect, but I love, honor and respect you, and I want to try. Being able to realize when your spouse needs all your focus, and everyone else will have to wait in line for your full attention. Being able to say I am struggling right now, and I need you. You’ve probably heard the saying that being in love means never having to say I’m sorry, but that is one of the most untrue statements I have ever heard. A relationship is just two imperfect people trying to do life together. Because we are imperfect, we are going to make mistakes. Being humble is being able to show your spouse the grace they need when they mess up, and hoping they do the same for you. Being humble is not making the relationship totally about you and your needs alone.

What about humility in friendships? Yes, we must show humility in friendships. Friendships should be give and take. One friend should not always being giving and the other always taking. That’s being selfish, and making it all about you. I’m sorry, but that’s not a real friendship, not even close! There will be times, just like in any relationship, where one needs something more than the other. You won’t always both be doing great. You won’t always both be happy and fulfilled. Sometimes, one may be more needy than the other. Sometimes, one may need more love, and attention, and grace over the other. One may sometimes just need you to be there, and understand they’re going through something, not judging them for their actions. That is true humility in a friendship.

How about being humble in success? Are you one who is grateful for the success you have had, and doesn’t constantly brag about it? Or, do you constantly have to remind everyone you come in contact with how successful you are? There’s a fine line here in being proud. By all means, please be so proud of your successes, you absolutely should be, but being humble means that not everybody has to know or hear about it. Being humble means being successful and sometimes shutting up about it.

I read a quote that said “Humility isn’t some grand achievement or even overcoming some major challenge. It is a sign of spiritual strength. It is having the quiet confidence that day by day and hour by hour we can rely on the Lord, serve Him, and achieve His purposes.” Ezra Benson said “Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right.” Are you serving a cause, and serving others or serving your ego? Something to think about!

So where do you find yourself today? Living a life of pride or living a life of humility? Do you always have to be right? My sincere prayer is that I am living a life of humility, and am willing to put in the work if I’m not. My sincere prayer is that I put others before myself. My sincere prayer is that I am always able to see my wrongdoings, and ask for forgiveness if I need to. In Proverbs there is a scripture that talks about pride going before a fall. I have had to fall at times in my life to have pride dealt with, it’s not a fun place to find yourself. I don’t want that for you today. I don’t want that for me. Choose to show humility always, in all things. Choose others over being selfish. The world will be a better place, and more importantly, you and I will lead more fulfilling lives, and make a difference in the world. Don’t we need more people like that right now? There’s no better way to add value to others, and to this world than by living a life full of humility.

With love for you all,

Shauna