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The Honor of Humility

And before honor comes humility.  Proverbs 15: 33b NASB

Photo courtesy of morguefile and hotblack.I wonder what they think about me now?

I worked for a mission’s organization called Youth With A Mission, referred to as YWAM.  I was a recruiter who set up missions meetings in thirty-five cities east of the Mississippi. One weekend, a couple that organized meetings for me in South Carolina came to the YWAM center in Virginia where I lived. This couple really loved missions. They also had liked YWAM and respected the work we did. I was a little surprised when I found out what this couple really liked about our mission.

On Sunday morning we invited them over to our apartment for breakfast before church. I was trying to entertain my guests and help my youngest daughter get dressed for church. My little one, usually the picture of submission, was having a hard time listening to her dad.

Finally, I lost it and let her have it verbally in a very unloving fashion. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, I knew I was wrong and apologized to her. She forgave me as kids usually do. But we were in the room right next to where my guests were waiting. I thought to myself, I wonder what they think about me now.  Needless to say, it was a very awkward breakfast for me that morning.

After church, we went to lunch at a restaurant. Before we prayed for the meal, I decided I needed to get this thing off my chest. It didn't matter whether they had heard me or not. I needed to be known in my weakness and ask them to pray that I would be able to handle stress better.

As I told them the story, the husband got a huge smile on his face. He said, “That's what we like about you YWAMERS. You have the rhema in this area of openness.”

Wow! I saw more clearly than ever that I had been believing a lie.

What I wanted to hide, when revealed, didn’t bring shame but respect. In God's kingdom, honor is always preceded by humility. Be of humble heart. It is an honor.

(Photo courtesy of morguefile and hotblack.)

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Ken Barnes

Ken Barnes has had a twenty-five year career in educational pursuits. He has taught in various public and private schools in Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and Virginia. He also worked for seventeen years with Youth With A Mission as a school leader, recruiter, and director. Ken holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the author of The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places. He currently is a speaker, blogger, and freelance writer. Ken lives with his wife Sharon in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Visit Ken at https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/