Humility is a virtue that we should all have, and practice everyday. I like both kinds of music……both country and western. Tim McGraw’s song says it best…..always be humble and kind. I wish we all did that. Just imagine what a wonderful world this would be.
The line in Tim McGraw’s song sticks with me “When you get where you’re going, don’t forget- turn back around and help the next one in line”. Our role is to ensure that we always focus on helping others. Their success is our success.
Humility is mentioned 33 times in the Bible. God tells us, many times, the importance of being humble. Here’s a couple of examples: Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility values others above yourselves.” In Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
But my favorite verse is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land”.
We have many humble folks out there that we should respect and emulate. President George H.W.Bush is a perfect example. His mom told him at an early age “George, never brag”….and he doesn’t. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 3 Air Medals as a pilot in the US Navy in WWII, he never bragged. Holding key positions in our government, he never bragged. Even as President of the United States, he never bragged. He tells us “I am guided by certain traditions. One is that there is a God and He is good, and His love while free has a self-imposed cost: We must be good to one another”. Amazing.
Another example who happened to also be President of the United States is Ulysses S. Grant He refused to humiliate the Confederate Forces upon their surrender; he allowed them to retain their horses and side arms; and when he learned that Confederate Soldiers were starving, Grant sent them rations.
I had the privilege of hosting Tom Landry at a prayer luncheon when I was a Brigade Commander. The banquet hall was packed to hear Landry the coach, but they heard Landry the Christian. He told the audience that “Becoming a Christian was easy, but being a Christian is hard”, and “Being a Christian is not about who you are, it’s about what you do”. Words to live by.
So let’s all commit to do a better job at being humble. Always remember that it is not about us….it is about everyone around us.