Humble. Such a beautiful word...except in Wilbur's case, when it just made the farmer think Wilbur would made extra-good bacon. As the Lord teaches me more about humility, it can feel like I'm being made into bacon.
Each year, I pick a word for the year accompanied by a verse containing that word or the general idea of the word. In year's past, I've had verses in Isaiah, Lamentations, Hebrews, and James. This year, it's a Proverb. One of the most widely known Proverbs to boot. Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will made your paths straight." I have loved this verse for a long time. But, I've also known this verse for a long time. In sixth grade (ish), I wrote this verse on my neon green dry-erase board, spelling "acknowledge" horrifically wrong. But, it's my verse, and every single word of it rings true to the focus of my heart.
Humble. Sitting on a small bench in the bathroom staring into a filthy toilet, my four-year-old crying in my arms as we waited to see if the stomach bug had gotten to her as well. In my mind, "Isn't this glamorous?" If school wasn't closed, I would have been teaching middle school. (I'm fairly certain that isn't glamorous either.) The Lord, as He often does, spoke to my heart. Glamour has nothing to do with it. This is that to which you have been called. Within a few minutes, her tummy pain passed, and she was asleep-in that little bathroom, on a little bench, with a little love.
Normally, when exhortation comes, my skin prickles, and I want to hide. This time, though, love overwhelmed me. It might have had something to do with the little one sleeping in my arms. It also might have been due to answered prayer. I've been asking Him to make my path straight-for Richard and I to be unified in decisions for the future. I've been praying for help to put me second, and my family first. It should be easy, but it is not, at least not for me. I need humility. I need to be humble. I need help. Now He can work, and He won't turn me into bacon.
