Wednesday, September 1, 2010

A Week of Virtues - Day 3 - Humility


*Humility–noun
the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc

*Humility definition from a Bible Dictionary
a prominent Christian grace (Rom. 12:3; 15:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 4:11-13). It is a state of mind well pleasing to God (1 Pet. 3:4); it preserves the soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33), and makes us patient under trials (Job 1:22). Christ has set us an example of humility (Phil. 2:6-8). We should be led thereto by a remembrance of our sins (Lam. 3:39), and by the thought that it is the way to honour (Prov. 16:18), and that the greatest promises are made to the humble (Ps. 147:6; Isa. 57:15; 66:2; 1 Pet. 5:5). It is a "great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory."

*http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/humility


For me humility means:
  • accepting the reality of my powerlessness over most everything in my life, including my alcoholism, other people's alcoholism, and others' actions, attitudes, and basically all people, places, and things (including the technical difficulties that kept me from posting this until late tonight! :)


  • giving credit for all that is good and positive in my life and inside of me to the one who has all power, whom I call God

Thanks to the God, whom I found through working 12 Step programs, the following statements (also referenced above from the Bible Dictionary) are absolute truths that I have personally experienced:
~  humility preserves my soul in tranquillity (Ps. 69:32, 33)
~  humility makes me patient under trials (Job 1:22)


Above photo is a flower from the Mimosa pudica, a.k.a. the Humble Plant.  This plant is a creeping annual or perennial herb often grown for its curiosity value: the compound leaves fold inward and droop when touched or shaken, re-opening minutes later.  See video below.




After watching the way the Humble Plant responds to touch in the above video, I reflected a bit on the way I respond when God touches my life.  Do I stand firm and refuse to yield to His will for me?  Or, like this interesting plant, do I allow myself to bend to the hand of God knowing that He knows what is best for me and my life?  Honestly, I do both.  Even more honestly, I do the former much more frequently than the latter. 

How do I know which one I am doing?  When I am resisting God's will for me I am mostly like going to find myself in emotional and mental discomfort, pain, anguish, and eventually, in insanity.  When I humbly accept and act in line with God's will, I experience a peace like no other.  Simple but not easy...

2 comments:

  1. I like what you write about humility. I am not pushing my ego or my agenda but can listen and be accepting of others as my Higher Power works within.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Humility- right sized, balanced.If we have a clear view of our defects and assets- we will not be "puffed up" !
    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for sharing!