 When we have success in our lives, or in our children we feel it's necessary to share it with others. Problems can quickly arise when good news about our accomplishments is too plentiful. While it is our natural tendency to want to share good news about all the great things going on in our lives, (or for parents in our children's lives) we should consider our motive and who we are sharing with. Naturally parents can share with grandparents all the accomplishments of the grandkids. And we should share with our spouse and parents what we consider accomplishments. However, we can share too much. The other party your sharing with can feel awkward, like a fish out if water. There is a fine line between sharing success and being prideful. What does success look like to you? Are you sharing out of gratitude of a blessing or are you struggling with pride? Yes, pride. That ugly sounding word, as you read it, are "oh, not me!" thoughts are rolling through your head? Do you share to make yourself feel better? Do you share to make you or your children look good? Do you share all the great things in life so that it outweighs the not so good ones? Philippians 2:1-4 "if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if thee is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look at your own interests, but also for the interests of others" There are SO many Scriptures about pride and boasting, but the passage from Philippians, really sums it up. When we are so intensely focused on our own success and interests, we're not one with The Spirit nor, are we showing compassion. Christ emptied Himself, becoming emptied to the point of death. What a great example of humility. I challenge you - instead of being focused on yourself, your children, and accomplishments focus on The Savior, Jesus. |
Luke 9:23 "if anyone desires to follow Me, he must deny himself daily, take up his cross and follow Me"
~ Submitted by Jeni Morelock
