Weekend Kindness
Reaching Others Through Kindness

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Humility is a hard lesson for those of this generation to teach.  We’re too busy telling them that they are the best that ever was, and pumping more money into personal trainers,gym memberships, and the latest gear.

The truth is that many modern parents really believe what they think about their child is real– they really are the cutest, the smartest, and the best at everything they do.  That’s why they attribute failure to bad luck.

The truth is that if we want well rounded children, we need to realize that they need to be firmly grounded in reality– knowing who they are, what they are good at, but realizing that there’s more to the world than just them.

When family activities revolve around what we believe our kids “need” or “want” in order to feel better about themselves, we drive them to be self-centered.

Pride is the result

Teaching Humility

But how do you go about teaching humility?  By modeling it– so says Dr. Meg Meeker in her book, Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.  Our kids need to see in us that we understand that the world is bigger than us.  Compared to God, we’re but dust, we are worth something because He loves us.

If a daughter is grounded in humility, she will have a proper (not inflated) view of herself.  She will be more content, and not need the things of this world in order to feel pretty, smart, etc.  She won’t have to be the best, because she will  know who she is.

This is the opposite of the teaching of building self-esteem, this is building self-awareness.  This is building in our children the ability to understand who they are, what their position is in the grand scheme of things, and that they are not the center of the Universe.

When we, as parents, put others first, when we treat others with respect, and when we show that the world does not revolve around us, we have taken a big step in helping our children to do the same.  When we refuse to make our children the center of our universe, we’ve taken another step.

Humility as a Guide

The neat thing about humility is that it will be an excellent guide.  Those that truly pursue their own happiness, or self-indulgence, as their chief goal will find it empty.  They will always be after more, as lust gradually increases.  They will need more stimulation to get the same hit, and be willing to chase happiness and find it wherever they can.

Humility will look to others first.  Because it’s outward focused (either on God or others) it will help your daughter to see that she really is but a small part of a bigger story– and something great will come if only she’ll be able to deny the immediate for the long term.

A Example from Christ

There’s a reason that the story of Jesus is so powerful.  In Philippians 2 we read that Jesus humbled himself to come in human form to die on the cross.  He was willing to set aside His personal happiness to come to Earth to die.  Not something I think the God of the Universe would find enjoyable.

He chose to set aside His glory for the greater glory to come.

It is that humility that we want our children to show– the self sacrificing glory.  The kind that looks at what pleasure may offer in the short term, but looks at the long term implications and says no.  The type that can see through the marketing and the hype, and realize that, in the grand scheme of things, it really isn’t worth it.

It’s a hard lesson.  Especially when everyone from the government to the local burger chain wants you to “have it your way” and make sure that you’re happy.

But it’s worth it.  It’s worth it for you to humble  yourself to give your children the right way to view life.

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