Pride

Pride is the lofty view of one's self or one's own. According to Augustine, it is "the love of one's own excellence." ^[1] The opposite of pride is humility.

We talk about pride from time to time in our house. As ladies, when our feelings are hurt or we are offended, (which is most often one and the same) - it is often and mostly the result of our own pride being wounded. Our pride is something we must keep in check. Today I have been thinking about Hamen. What a proud man he was....all the kingdom bowed to him...except Mordecai. Day after day Mordecai refused to bow. Hamen was so angered that this one single man did not bow that he came up with a plan to exterminate the entire Jewish race. Really, it was Hamen's pride that was wounded. To think that someone would dare to not bow. And our pride can lead to anger too. Really, it was one law (refusing to bow to Hamen) and one man (Mordecai) who refused to bow. But Hamen reported to the King that "there is a certain people scattered abroad .... and their laws are diverse .... neither keep they the king's laws..." (Esther 3:8) Hamen made Mordecai's offense sound so much more awful than it really was. He needed someone to blame for his hurt feelings and his anger. Isn't that how we are when our pride is hurt. We make big deals out of small things. I'm asking the LORD to show me my pride.....and when I am hurt or offended I want to deal with my pride and not someone else's acitons.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
try me, and know my thoughts.
See if there be any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24

I am enjoying going thru the book of Esther right now. To know that the Name of God is not even mentioned...yet to see how His Name and Person is glorified over and over in this little book is amazing. Thinking about Mordecai today and how he was so strong and true to what he knew was right. When Haman demanded (Esther 3:1-2) everyone bow and pay homage to him--Mordecai would not....could not bow to any but his true God. Sometimes I think Mordecai just quietly did not bow and hid his actions...but no. He was at the very gate of the palace when he refused to bow. In plain sight of all those who were in authority over him. Oh that we would be willing to stand for what is right no matter the cost. And to teach our children how to stand for what is right. Mordecai knew who was on the "real throne" and he trusted his God to protect him. Doesn't that make you glorify God? It does me. I don't remember ever teaching my young children about Mordecai but he sure would be a good Biblical character to teach our kids about. "That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I AM the LORD, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:6

Our family

We four live in the house at the present. But on any given day it may be filled with the joy and laughter of any one or all of our 11 grand kids. Or maybe even the whining or rejoicing of any of the 8 parents of the grand kids! Its home to us .... and we love it.