And if we are looking for something FROM the other person, that isn’t humility.
Relationships are messy.
A relationship is “the state of being connected.”
In our day to day lives, we are connected with other people. And when we are connecting in day to day life with others, we can conclude that it will be messy since all humans are imperfect beings.
But – when we work on our relationships by investing in others with love and they invest in us with a mutual love, even though they are messy, relationships are worth it.
In a scene in The Shack Papa, (God the Father) is preparing a meal to be shared by Papa, Jesus, Sarayu (the Holy Spirit), and Mack. Papa
spilled what she was making on the floor and immediately Jesus bent over to clean up the mess.
“Jesus went straight to Papa and, kneeling at her feet, began to wipe off the front of her clothes. He worked down to her feet and gently lifted on foot at a time, which he directed into the basin where he cleaned and massaged it.”
“So, this was God in relationship? It was beautiful and so appealing. He knew that it didn’t matter who’s fault was the mess – the mess from some bowl that had been broken, that a planned dish would not be shared. Obviously, what was truly important here was the love they had for one another and the fullness it brought to them. He shook his head. How different this was from the way he sometimes treated the ones he loved!”
Some important things we can learn from this . . .
“It didn’t matter who’s fault was the mess.”
Have you ever noticed that when we are in an altercation or disagreement with others, we immediately try to find fault and apply blame?
Wouldn’t it be so much more conducive to our relationships if instead of worrying about whose fault the mess is, we instead offered humility? What if we offer humilty and grace?
Notice how Jesus went straight to Papa and kneeled, wiping off Papa’s feet.
That is not the first time we see that image. We see it in scripture as well, right before he went to the cross.
What would it mean for us if in our relationships we would go straight to the other person and offer an act of humility and submission rather than a bunch of reasons why “we are right.”
Most likely those relationships would become much different than if we always immediately move to blame.
Humility connects us. Offering grace connects us.
Blame and finding fault disconnects us.
Who do you need to connect with today?
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12 NIV