Greetings Prayer Warriors,
By nature we are prone to disagree, spar with, and challenge people, especially our spouse. Challenging another can help them grow, but we get into trouble when our pride is greater than our humility. [Or so I hear. ;-) ] When a vice outweighs a virtue, it is a wake up call that WE need to grow, and this begins with reassessing our relationship to God. Perhaps we’ve been relying more on our will than His.
When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
Are you lacking in wisdom? Need to nourish your humility? Here is a sampling of suggestions from an expert, St. Teresa of Calcutta, aka Mother Teresa.
- Accept small irritations with good humor
- Do not dwell on the faults of others
- Give in to the will of others
- Accept insults and injuries
- Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone
- Give in, in discussions, even when you are right
Plus a pearl that can help with the growth of humility, “Sacrifice is the inversion of malice.” Show love through sacrifice.
Swallowing one’s pride is not an easy task, but much more palatable when one starts with prayer. Pray, then ask the Lord to help you imitate him so that you may grow in virtue.
The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. Psalm 145:8
Please note, none of the above should imply that you suffer abuse, verbally or physically, but rather, you humbly tolerate and become less reactive to provocation and insults.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. Colossians 3:12-13
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
Help one another grow in virtue. Pass it on!
