Humility

Studying Fierce Women by Kimberly Wagner with the women at church. Currently rereading chapter 5 for tonight's gathering and talking more notes than I did the first time. Usually goes that way doesn't it?

It feels good to recognize the places where you did not go wrong. It's a good reminder of the lesson you need to make sure others know. The big one today was that you can never change anyone but yourself. Pray to God to help you see where you need to change. Pray to Him to bring you wisdom in this relationship. But praying for God to change them only brings you exhaustion.

That is not why I titled this entry Humility.
Farther in the chapter she lists How Humility Affects a Fierce Woman. That list is exciting to me because I can teach that to my students.

Do you try to maintain control or do you recognize that God is in control?
Do you believe you are always right or can you allow others to have their own opinions?
Are you teachable?
Are you willing to be held accountable?
Do you see others with their God given worth and value?
Do you treat others with kindness and respect?
Are you a " soft" warrior?

I love that wording if soft warrior. You can see the strength and know they are someone you do not want to mess with or cross their path when they are charging. But you can see their heart in it. You know that they only do battle because it will help and make things better. They don't do battle to gain control or to prove something. It's a heart issue.

The other great phrase she had was " childlike humility".
Now if you spend any amount of time with children, you know that they are not typically humble. They are prideful and bold and want to be acknowledge for every battle they win. But they do know teamwork and they do know how to play their part and they do know how to let their friends shine as well. That is a great reminder that humility it's not a doormat, it's shinning with others.