Humble Pie

Humble Pie

As I was baking a pie recently I got to thinking about a slice of humble pie I had eaten a few years back. Jay and I were going through a rough patch in our marriage.  During that time, I happened across the Golden Rule which reminds us to treat others the way we wish to be treated (Matthew 7:12). I got to wondering what would happen if I were to humble myself and live out this principal in my marriage.  I decided to give it a go for fifteen days.  The rules were simple;   I was going to swallow my pride and treat my husband the way I wanted him treat me, with no expectation of receiving anything back in return.   If I sent a text telling him I loved him, I couldn’t be resentful if he didn’t reply in kind.   No more quid pro quo, I do this you do that type of thinking, I was going to do all the giving.  So, I leveled my pride and dove in. I like it when someone is kind and courteous to me or says please and thank you so I said and did those things.  I like getting a kiss and a hug from time to time, so I gave those away.  I like being asked about my day, so I asked and then shut up and listened.  I like being greeted with a smile and complimented for a job well done so I did those things to Jay as well.  

I gave it all away. And what I received in return was far and beyond what I could have imagined or hoped for!  I heard once that loving someone is looking for their highest good and I believe that is the basic premise of the Golden Rule.  The results were life altering and by the end of the fifteen days it had so transformed our relationship and the eyes through which I saw the world that I decided to practice the Golden Rule with everyone.  I am not perfect, but for the most part, this has become the basis for how I live my life. 

Practicing  humility is not the same thing as humiliation.   Humiliation is when we attempt to humble someone else, usually by shaming them. Which, by the way, never ever works.  Humility is the realization that the world doesn’t revolve around me and my desires. It doesn’t mean I trust someone who is untrustworthy; but it does mean I can still choose to treat the untrustworthy people in my life with dignity, and respect.  You see, I am developing a view of the world through the lens of God’s truth and  His kingdom found in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, instead of having a view of the world through the lens of the world’s truth.  Humans could never come up with the sort of truth embedded in the Golden Rule or the Bible on our own.  We come up with things like “Don’t get mad, get even.” Or “Do unto others and then split!”  Truth by the human race brought us the events of the twentieth century; while holding the distinction as the most modern time  in history, it also holds the title for the most  human atrocities and the  bloodiest time period in human history. We may be technologically advanced but we are still killing, lying to, stealing from and hurting one another.

 1 Peter 5:6 says Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”  Loving others who are easy to love is human nature.   Loving others unconditionally, warts and all is God’s nature; which, by the way, changes the world for the better. Always has, always will.   Thanks be to God!

Would you like to try a slice of humble pie?   I highly recommend it!

Be joy filled always, 

Christine Davis

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