But I want a perfect, weedless garden.
For 30 years, we have wrangled about this.
It needs to stop.
But how? Nobody wants to give in. We both think we are right and, from our own perspectives, we are. After all, no biblical principle hinges on whether I spray Roundup on the creeping charlie.
Or does it?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.--Matthew 5:3,5
A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.--Proverbs 29:23
I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.--Isaiah 57:15
Think about it.
What makes us really humble?
Is it bowing and shuffling when someone tells me that I have done something well? No. That makes me secretly proud.
Am I humbled when I experience defeat after striving to do or learn something? No. As often as not, that simply spurs me on to try harder next time.
But obedience, now that breeds humility.
Doing what someone else wants, not what I want, when I know my idea or plan is just as valid as theirs. Setting aside my own will in situations where all I sacrifice is me.
That's humility.
Of course, I should never set aside my holiness, my love and devotion to God, but all else can be well lost.
And it feels nasty.
Is not my opinion or desire of value?
Of course it is. That's why setting it aside takes so much effort.
I am humbled by giving up my will not because it has no validity, but because it does.
Some positions are not important enough to fight over.
But they make great tools by which to learn holiness.
Obedience in these issues is how I push aside the extraneous parts of me, how I enter into the holy of holies, where my humanity takes a back seat to God's supremacy.
Humility was never about my position before other men.
It was always about my position before God.
And, as it turns out, pulling weeds.
I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand.--Psalms 73:23
Oh, humility. Not a very strong portion of my personality... and no one would argue with me about that. [Chuckling in my heart and mind, though, as I read your post and saw where and how I fit right in.]
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Right there with you, kid. Ugh. Don't like that ugliness at all. My husband once told me that he thought my dad had told me I was perfect (he did) and I expected everyone else to think so, too. Sigh.
DeleteI try...don't often achieve. But I do leave the outside to my husband and he the inside to me. Is that called compromise? ha!
ReplyDeleteIs that compromise? Hmmm...not sure I'd leave my outside to my husband, though. He still doesn't know which shoes go with which outfit.
DeleteI think of humble as if no one was looking how would you act? what would you do? what would you strive for if no one were noticing . . . I do eat humble pie often. There must be a place between complete surrender and waving the flag. If I ever figure it out--I'll post it!!!
ReplyDeleteBe Blessed.
Well, what we do when no one is looking certainly is a measure of character, that's for sure.
DeleteI love this: 'I am humbled by giving up my will not because it has no validity, but because it does.' It's so difficult (with a right attitude) to acquiesce when I know I'm right. Yet I know it's not nearly as important to be right as it is to please God. I'm definitely a work in progress!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting from Mary @ Woman to Woman today!
"..it's not nearly as important to be right as it is to please God."
DeleteNo kidding. I sure wish I could do both at the same time.
Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop xo
ReplyDelete"I am humbled by giving up my will not because it has no validity, but because it does." - Very powerful!! Great word!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if God wants RoundUp and Dave to realize God is there in the sciences of managing gardens? I get a great deal of satisfaction doing both not having a husband
ReplyDelete