Lil Red Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 What is your definition of humility, of being humble? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 ... that of Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, taking on the very nature of a servant and being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross ... I love those verses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 i mean more personally, though. you have a good point, but how do you apply being humble in your life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Refrain from boasting. Realize that without Christ nothing that you have done you could've done. Give all praise and compliments to Christ. Don't overdo it,though. If someone gives you a compliment, say thank you, and in your heart pray to God and give him the credit and the glory that He deserves. Be slow to speak, quick to listen. Do everything for the glory of God, and most of all, always and every way, pray that God will grant you humility. It'll be hard, but it'll be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 nice, thanks, teresa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I'll be the first to admit, that it's the hardest thing to do, and I stuggle with it every day. And to follow my own advice: Lil Red, Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 i struggle as well. but this Sunday's readings concern being humble before God, and i was just wondering how people apply this to their life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I think a big part of being humble is knowing that nothing is truly in your control. The more vulnerable you are, the more humble you can become. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 i think a good example lately is the USA men's b-ball team. They went into the Olympics thinking they were the best, better than everyone else and they lost, they focused on themselves, individually, and not on themselves as a team and they lost. They got a big dose of humility. This is why Jesus places the least among us to be first, because the least among us are humble enough to know that they need God. The bigshots, the greedy rich people, those who are ambitious for honors are worried about who sits where, who gets ahead first, and they are not worried about listening to God's word. That reminds me of people who skip outta Mass early. They think they don't need God, they are worried about whatever else they are doing that day, not being in the moment of Mass, and therefore are not placing God first. Does that all make sense? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Yes, very much. I think another way to be humble is to simply put others before yourself. The best parents are really the humble ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I really struggle with being humble myself. Jesus really is my example and my definition of humility ... and there are people I know who are visible reminders to me of what it means to truly be humble. One of my friends has a heart for the homeless. He goes out of his way to recognize and support those who are often passed by in greater society. So from him I learn that humility means not discounting others' gifts and talents, even if they don't smell as good or dress as nicely as I do. A woman I work with cares for her brother who is mentally retarded. I watch how she treats him and talks about him, and I am amazed at the amount of patience she posseses, and at the sacrifices she makes for him. From her I learn that humility means giving of myself for the sake of others. I have many friends who gave up the chance of furthering their careers so they could raise children. I love my job and I love the mental challenge it brings me, and frankly the thought of staying home all day and raising children is a little frightening. But these women do this grueling task day in and day out. From them, I learn that humility means sacrificing an immediate personal desire for something more lasting. As a bit of an addendum to Lil Red's example of the US men's basketball team ... yeah, they (and we as a nation) got a good dose of humiliation, but that doesn't mean it will result in humility. The way in which we respond to a humiliating defeat shows true character ... my first instinct is often to blame others for my shortcomings (making myself better than other people), when more rightly my focus should be first on accepting responsibility where I need to and working to do better from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil Red Posted August 25, 2004 Author Share Posted August 25, 2004 thank you for your wonderful thoughts, Sojourner. i realize that our loss will probably not result in humility, but you never know, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Humility is knowing and respecting where God has placed you in the world and using that position, high or low, to better the world and, ultimately, to help those around you to taste salvation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I guess one thing I'd want to add is that humility is also submitting your will to God -- just as we see in the life of Jesus and in the life of his mother, Mary, who said yes to God's gift. One of my all-time favorite passages is Hebrews 11 ... it lists all these people who followed God by faith, not knowing what was going to happen to them but trusting that God would take care of them. That's humility. I want that. I pray for it often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Bro. Adam Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Wow, Sojourner! That's really deep! Thank you for sharing that with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now