I must admit. I am a prideful person. While I want to emulate a humble spirit, I know within my own reasoning I’m chasing an elusive butterfly. Trying to be humble is not humility at all.

Because I want to appear humble when I’m really very prideful, I struggle with advertising my achievements. Oh, I’d like to brag about this new book or a contract I’ve recently signed. But the Christian in me smacks me silly. “Bragging is not Christ-like.”

What’s a writer to do?

According to my publishing contracts, I’m required to promote my books. It’s hard to reconcile the call to humility and the responsibility that comes with the privilege of publication. Especially when one struggles with humility on other fronts. (Just ask my husband how quick I am to brag when I get Final Jeopardy and he doesn’t.)

Maybe the inability to reconcile this inner conflict is because I tend to think of being humble as something to be achieved when, in truth, humility is rooted in thought.

I wonder. Perhaps true humility in Christ does not require us to squelch sharing what God has done for us. I realize one of God’s many blessings to me is the privilege of writing for the Lord.

Humility is found in the realization of the worth Almighty God has placed on the soul. That one who gave up his high place to become low in order to raise me up boggles the mind. Why should he love us so?

I cannot be silent for his love. This includes sharing the joy I feel with privilege of my service.

Pride comes when I let myself believe the achievement was a result of my own cleverness.

What do you think? How would describe Christian humility?

Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV).

Linda Wood Rondeau

Second Helpings by Linda Wood Rondeau

Linda Wood Rondeau, a veteran social worker, is also a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is no stranger to family bedlam. Her stories of encouragement and hope come from the heart. She resides in Hagerstown, Maryland with her husband of over forty years. She enjoys golf and theater and is actively involved with her local church. Find more encouraging words in her blog, Snark and Sensibility, on her website www.lindarondeau.com and sign up for her newsletter. Visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest: https://www.facebook.com/lindawoodrondeau/

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