Based on the definition I found yesterday for humility in the dictionary, humility and empowerment seem to be contradictory. But I found an article today called “The Empowerment of Humility” by Richard Edgley that I want to study today.
Becky and I had a good talk last night about how things are going: she had a harder day, partly because my parents can be a bit difficult – especially when they come to our house and start giving suggestions on how things could or should be.
It felt good to talk to her, listen, and understand where she’s coming from. I love her so much and always want to be there to listen.
I’ve found that listening is a form of humility: when I was caught up in my addiction, I was never in the mood to listen or try to understand. Everything was about what was right to me, I took every form of potential critique or recommendation defensively, and most conversations I had with Becky and the kids ended in some sort of argument or misunderstanding.
This is pride.
This is resentment.
And these are addictive behaviors I want to stay away from.
These are the many members I see, admire, and am grateful for. They are not seeking position, prominence, or fame, but each is earning a place in our Father’s kingdom by taking care of the business of everyday living. They are consistently doing the unnoticed, the unspectacular, but humbly and righteously doing the important. Challenges they have, but out of their bitter struggles they are able to find the sweetness that is so often the silent companion to adversity.
This quote seems to go with what Becky and I talked about last night. Why do we do what we do? What is most important to us? Or better, WHO is most important to us?
What I’ve learned from all this heartache and pain I’ve caused Becky and the kids is that NOTHING is more important than the relationship I build with Heavenly Father and with my immediate family.
What I wear, how much I make, how clean the house is, or whatever else, is only secondary at best to how I decide to work on my relationship with Heavenly Father and my family.
I’m so grateful Becky and I are on the same page with this. She is so committed to helping the kids, to taking good care of them, and to helping them feel her love for them. I’m grateful that she’s such a wonderful mom and companion.
…the strength of the Church is in the millions of humble members striving every day to do the will of the Savior—day by day, one step at a time.
I feel it’s not ironic that it talks about day by day, on step at a time.
I can’t look too far in the future. I can’t think too far ahead. Today is today, and today I’m going to choose to submit my will to God and live in recovery.
If I look too far ahead, things seem overwhelming. If I look to far ahead, it’s easy to say that I can’t do this or that at some point I’m going to give in.
But if I focus on today and what I can control: my thoughts, my words, my deeds – then it doesn’t seem so tough. Especially if I’m willing to turn my will over to God and humble myself.
This is probably my favorite quote from the whole talk:
Humility and gratitude are truly the twin characteristics of happiness.
It’s been helpful to keep a gratitude journal. Gratitude and humility going hand in hand. As I recognize all the blessings in my life and the hand of God in giving me those blessings, I’m able to avoid the temptation to feel that “this is all because of my hard work” or whatever.
Being grateful for what I have is something I have control of.
Many of us live or work in an environment where humility is often misunderstood and considered a weakness. Not many corporations or institutions include humility as a value statement or a desired characteristic of their management. Yet as we learn about the workings of God, the power of a humble and submissive spirit becomes apparent. In the kingdom of God, greatness begins with humility and submissiveness. These companion virtues are the first critical steps to opening the doors to the blessings of God and the power of the priesthood. It matters not who we are or how lofty our credentials appear. Humility and submissiveness to the Lord, coupled with a grateful heart, are our strength and our hope.
I like this too. It reminds me of vulnerability. Being humble and vulnerable are not weaknesses, but they are signs that a person is willing to admit that there is a higher power and that they aren’t capable of doing everything on their own.
Both these characteristics are ways to show that I’m willing to submit to God and let Him lead me. Humility, gratitude, and submissiveness equal strength and hope.
This is a great section to finish with:
Humbly submitting our will to the Father brings us the empowerment of God—the power of humility. It is the power to meet life’s adversities, the power of peace, the power of hope, the power of a heart throbbing with a love for and testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ, even the power of redemption. To this end, the Savior is our supreme example of the power of humility and submissiveness. After all, His submitting His will to the Father brought about the greatest, and even the most powerful, event in all of history. Perhaps some of the most sacred words in all the scriptures are simply, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
If I have humility, I will have the power to meet life’s adversities, the power of peace, the power of hope, the power of a testimony of Jesus Christ.
I’m grateful for the teachings of the prophets and apostles.
I’m grateful to want to submit my will to God today.
I’m grateful I got to go play basketball this morning.
I look forward to today.
Hasta luego!
Nate
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