“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart…” Matthew 11:29

Humble In Heart

Recently, my daughter was invited to have dinner with a friend’s family. I told the friend’s mom what time I would need to pick her up. I arrived at the friend’s house at the time I had said I would. I was told, “She’s still eating, I can bring her home when she’s done.” I said, “No thank you, I will wait.” The family engaged in conversation as I encouraged my child to hurry. They wanted me to sit and visit longer, but I told them that we really did need to go now.  

I sensed that the other mother thought I was making a big deal out of something that clearly was not a big deal to her. I don’t like feeling misunderstood. I was tempted to explain to the mother, “I hope you don’t think I am rude. I stated what time I would be picking my child up from your house, and I expected her to be ready at that time. It may seem like I am being ridiculous, but I know that if we do not leave your house now, it will take that much longer to get her ready for bed. She’s had a long day; we were up late another day this week, and if she doesn’t get to bed on time tonight, she will be grumpy tomorrow, and I am the one who will have to deal with that. Plus, by nature, I am a more scheduled mom, because that works for me.” I wanted to explain all of that, but I didn’t.  

Jesus described himself as “humble.” Yet He felt no need to defend His decisions to those who misunderstood Him. Since Jesus Himself understood His calling and how He needed to fulfill it, He had no need to explain to those who delighted in misunderstanding. “Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things’” (Luke 20:8).

Humility is not about doing things the way other people expect you to do them, nor does it mean you have to explain. It means that I can confidently live out the calling God has for me, with the unique personality He gave me in the first place. I do this kindly, knowing that sometimes I won’t be understood. It also means that I can accept someone else’s way of parenting when it is different than mine.

In the future, if this family won’t honor the time frame that I have requested, I may reconsider whether to recreate with them close to bedtime. It doesn’t mean that I judge them or dislike them. It just means that I know what I need to do for my own.  

True humility is based on confidently knowing who I am in Christ, and loving others accordingly.

“Dear heavenly Father, please teach us how to love others when we feel judged. Rid us of the need to defend ourselves as we take care of our children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”