Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having had a great day on this beautiful Friday evening! Only 13 days until Christmas!
This week I got a great lesson in humility.
On Tuesday morning I posted the following on Facebook:
"Always remember that your greatness as a leader will not be determined by how much power you accumulate. It will be determined by how much you serve and sacrifice for others to help them become great. Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others." - Jon Gordon, The Carpenter
That evening when I got on Facebook there was a notification that a dear, sweet friend, someone I value and cherish greatly, had posted a comment. I went to read it and it said:
"You!"
I was embarrassed. I didn't know what to say or do so I typed:
"You are far too kind Friend!"
That was it. Went on about my night and everything was fine...or so I thought. The next morning I swear it was like my daily workout partner, Jesus, was sitting on the treadmill waiting for me to get there! As soon as I uttered my first word in prayer that exchange was immediately on my heart and mind. It didn't feel right. I talked to God about, listed, talked some more, listened a whole lot more...you get the point!
Ultimately the lesson I learned, what convicted my Spirit greatly, was the fact that when I said "You are far too kind Friend!" I was essentially taking the credit for anything that has been done in me or through me. I might as well had said, "Yeah, ain't I something?!?!" My heart hurt. I was ashamed. I was embarrassed. I asked God to forgive me, and then I asked Him to forgive me again. I am sure had you been watching me on the treadmill the whole sight was pretty amusing. At one point I caught myself raising my arms to the side as I plead with God, "Please forgive me for this." And then He reminded me, once - ONCE! - I asked for forgiveness it was forgiven. Once! Dang these lessons/reminders keep coming at me fast and furious.
The act of true repentance requires an action. I can't say, "Lord, I am so sorry" and then keep doing the same thing...this would not be true repentance. Merriam-Webster online defines the verb repent "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life." The Lord and I spent the rest of my workout talking about how I was going to make this right and, how with His leading, guiding & direction, I would handle these types of things in the future.
You see, for me to say "you are far too kind" I was maximizing me and minimizing God. If I tried to do this - my life - by myself she would have never made the comment because I would be following my own selfish wants, needs & desires. It is only through the work that God has done in me that even created the relationship with her in the first place where she would have it on her heart to say "You!" You see, it isn't about me, it is about God and the Holy Spirit being alive in me and allowing Him to touch other lives through me. Period! John 3:30 says, "He must increase but I must decrease." I love that verse. My family loves that verse. Often, when in the Haslam household, if you ask what time it is someone is going to reply with, "3:30." It is always time for Him to increase and us to decrease. Finally I truly got it. Finally I truly understood.
As God and I talked about it I knew I need to call my sweet friend and apologize. And from this point forward when someone compliments the work that the Lord is doing in me and through me I will simply say, "Thank you, Praise the Lord." I spoke with that friend on the phone. I asked her if she saw my reply. She said, "yes." I said, "I am sorry." She said, "o.k." It was funny. She didn't ask me why I was apologizing, she didn't say I don't need to apologize. She knew I needed to apologize, she knew what I said was wrong. I then stumbled...I was finding it hard. I caught myself and said, "I simply want to say thank you, Praise the Lord." She said, "you are welcome." She showed me great mercy & grace, she forgave me. I also thanked her for giving me Happy Friday...we both laughed.
I am very thankful for this lesson. I have thought a lot about it over the course of these last few days. Most of my life I have struggled with compliments. I think I know the origins and I know, with God leading me, I can let His light shine through me. Thank you Lord and praise be to You!
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great evening, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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