This quote is one of my favourites. Presently I am making the letters to have it displayed on an unused blackboard in my classroom because if my students gain nothing else from my classes, I pray they always remember this quote. Over the years I have struggled with ‘humility.’ As St. Francis used to punish his body for his sins, I too would punish myself if I thought I was getting too ‘high and mighty.’ I would try to eradicate any longing of praise, acceptance or compliments towards me from others thinking that was the way to ‘humility.’ I would pray so much to our Father to help me be better. I then found this quote….Our Lord answered my prayer. Removing those longings were not the way to humility, just as St. Francis learned that punishing his body would not make him holier. Humility was acknowledging the person God made me to be, and using those gifts to get out of myself and to be with others. Humility is also acknowledging the good in others without comparing yourself to them. It is ok if someone is better at something than you, or gets praise while you don’t. You are not any less important to the Kingdom. Again, humility is not thinking less of yourself. You are made in the image and likeness of a Father that does not make mistakes. He knit you in your mother’s womb. He lives in you through the Eucharist. You are good.
C.S. Lewis, as part of his definition of humility adds: ‘…thinking of yourself less.’ To me, this is showing love. St. Thomas Aquinas states that love is to ‘seek the good of the other.’ I can honestly say that my students and experiences in my life have taught me how to love authentically and realize that many times, love is not a feeling but rather it is an action, a word, or a promise. I am not an outwardly affectionate person. Hugging is not really my thing. Giving outward signs of affection definitely takes me out of my comfort zone…out of the boat so to speak. It was during one of my spiritual direction sessions that I realized that by hugging those around me when they initiated a hug or asked for a hug, I was being humble. Instead of thinking of how vulnerable I am feeling at the time, I focus on what I am giving to the other: Thinking of myself less, responding to their love language (…..if you don’t know the different love languages, I highly recommend you google them….it makes sense of how people show and accept love.) Sometimes, the other needs a hug, and well, sometimes I need to humble myself to give it.
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