The Humblest

I have the joy of a lesser role in the upbringing of grandchildren than I did with my children.  The burden of shaping and molding these little personalities is a parental task.  Recently, I watched one of my precious little ones learn a lesson in humility.  He was being taught by his father.  

On Christmas morning he opened a gift with ten $1 dollar bills.  He screamed with glee.  Soon he was feeling much like a millionaire.  He couldn't stop asking personal money questions or fanning his money around for all to see.  He was fairly certain he had more money than anyone else in the world.  His father quietly instructed him that we don't fan our money around or ask people how much money they have.  We put it away.   It's not nice to do that and people don't like it.    

Everything in our human makeup causes us to strive to be the best of the best.  It can be a tightrope walk learning the right mix of being that person who understands how to be a humble winner.  

The best description of humility I have ever heard was in a sermon preached by my husband.  It went like this.  The winning horse in the race is called the most humble.  Why—because the winning horse has learned to surrendered to the person in control of the reigns. 

My grandson surrendered to the parental reigns of his father and put his money away.   I did not see that money come out again the rest of the day.  Nor did I have to field any more questions about my financial well-being.

This week how will you respond when the Lord gently leads you?  Will you resist and go your own way or will you be the humblest and yield.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)    

It’s a blessed event in the life of the believer when we learn to be sensitive and obedient to the leading of the Lord.