I have many thoughts about being humble. I was raised by my wonderful, loving, Lutheran, German-ancestry parents. Perhaps you have witnessed something else, but in my experience, if you put Lutheran and German in the same context, too much pride is always a sin.
My mother was an excellent quilter. She started quilting with her mother when she was 10 years old and continued her whole life.You could have measured her stitches with a micrometer; they would have been identical in size and very tiny. She knew her quilts were beautiful and special, but she would never have bragged about them.
I once asked her permission to enter one in a quilt show. I tried my best to persuade her; it would be protected from peoples' hands, it would be safe and people would get to see the lovely handiwork and all of her effort. She adamantly refused. I honored her wishes and did not enter it. I have often thought the reason for her refusal was fear of being prideful.
I can't say that I have inherited as much humility as my parents had. I believe we should be proud of the gifts God has given us, as long as we give him the honor for them. Not a boastful pride, just honestly knowing what we do well and not so well.
I have eaten a large slice of humble pie several times in my lifetime (that will be a future post) and you would think I would learn, but occasionally, I find myself on that high horse of pride again. I should recognize it and be ready for the fall, but unfortunately, it appears I have to keep learning the same lessons over and over again.
Recently, I found myself having to create a website; this one. I couldn't afford to have it done for me, which is what I really wanted. I had absolutely, and I mean a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y, NO idea what I was doing. I am not computer illiterate, but I had no idea where to start. I researched a lot of 'author' sites, read many articles on what words should be in the domain name so it would show up on search engines and a lot of other gook I didn't understand. So, armed with some advice from an online friend and what I had read, I tackled it.
I quit in frustration 3 times. Slammed my laptop closed and went to bed, only to get up in 30 minutes and start working on it again. When I had it presentable, I felt like I had given birth. A lot of pain, sweat and some tears, but joy and lots of pride in the finished product AND in my ability, of course.
I had to let my friends and everyone know about it. The ones who didn't have Facebook received an e-mail so they could see it, too. I got all kinds of great feedback and the needle on my Pride-o-Meter was going off the charts. These were my friends; they loved it. Then I made a mistake; I asked my nephew's wife: sweet, pregnant, Katie, to evaluate the website. She doesn't build websites, but she works with eLearning on a computer every day, is very proficient at what she does and obviously sees many websites in her profession. I even stressed the fact that I wanted her honest opinion and she wouldn't hurt my feelings if she recommended some improvements.
She sent me a list of 14 things that she felt needed changed, along with some suggestions about content. Well! My first reaction was one of frustration and defensiveness. I thanked her and decided I liked it the way it was and I would, maybe, change one or two things.
Proverbs 29: v. 23 A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. NKJV
In the morning, I decided to re-read her advice. I printed it out so I could address her concerns page by page. Once I got over my wounded pride, I realized she was right about so many things. There were a few I did not change, because I wanted them the way they were for my own reasons, but I worked on everything else. I eliminated a page and some images, changed fonts and titles, replaced some images with better ones. When I was finished, I had a much more polished and professional-looking site.
I thank Katie for her honesty and direction. I also thank God for helping me see the value in not being prideful AND bull-headed.
Proverbs 13:v 10 : By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. NKJV
Hopefully, I have gained a little wisdom; however, I know God is not done sanding the rough edges of my pride yet.
My mother was an excellent quilter. She started quilting with her mother when she was 10 years old and continued her whole life.You could have measured her stitches with a micrometer; they would have been identical in size and very tiny. She knew her quilts were beautiful and special, but she would never have bragged about them.
I once asked her permission to enter one in a quilt show. I tried my best to persuade her; it would be protected from peoples' hands, it would be safe and people would get to see the lovely handiwork and all of her effort. She adamantly refused. I honored her wishes and did not enter it. I have often thought the reason for her refusal was fear of being prideful.
I can't say that I have inherited as much humility as my parents had. I believe we should be proud of the gifts God has given us, as long as we give him the honor for them. Not a boastful pride, just honestly knowing what we do well and not so well.
I have eaten a large slice of humble pie several times in my lifetime (that will be a future post) and you would think I would learn, but occasionally, I find myself on that high horse of pride again. I should recognize it and be ready for the fall, but unfortunately, it appears I have to keep learning the same lessons over and over again.
Recently, I found myself having to create a website; this one. I couldn't afford to have it done for me, which is what I really wanted. I had absolutely, and I mean a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y, NO idea what I was doing. I am not computer illiterate, but I had no idea where to start. I researched a lot of 'author' sites, read many articles on what words should be in the domain name so it would show up on search engines and a lot of other gook I didn't understand. So, armed with some advice from an online friend and what I had read, I tackled it.
I quit in frustration 3 times. Slammed my laptop closed and went to bed, only to get up in 30 minutes and start working on it again. When I had it presentable, I felt like I had given birth. A lot of pain, sweat and some tears, but joy and lots of pride in the finished product AND in my ability, of course.
I had to let my friends and everyone know about it. The ones who didn't have Facebook received an e-mail so they could see it, too. I got all kinds of great feedback and the needle on my Pride-o-Meter was going off the charts. These were my friends; they loved it. Then I made a mistake; I asked my nephew's wife: sweet, pregnant, Katie, to evaluate the website. She doesn't build websites, but she works with eLearning on a computer every day, is very proficient at what she does and obviously sees many websites in her profession. I even stressed the fact that I wanted her honest opinion and she wouldn't hurt my feelings if she recommended some improvements.
She sent me a list of 14 things that she felt needed changed, along with some suggestions about content. Well! My first reaction was one of frustration and defensiveness. I thanked her and decided I liked it the way it was and I would, maybe, change one or two things.
Proverbs 29: v. 23 A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. NKJV
In the morning, I decided to re-read her advice. I printed it out so I could address her concerns page by page. Once I got over my wounded pride, I realized she was right about so many things. There were a few I did not change, because I wanted them the way they were for my own reasons, but I worked on everything else. I eliminated a page and some images, changed fonts and titles, replaced some images with better ones. When I was finished, I had a much more polished and professional-looking site.
I thank Katie for her honesty and direction. I also thank God for helping me see the value in not being prideful AND bull-headed.
Proverbs 13:v 10 : By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. NKJV
Hopefully, I have gained a little wisdom; however, I know God is not done sanding the rough edges of my pride yet.