Humility is Tiring

If you practice humility, you probably understand my sentiment. There are moments when being humble makes one weary. Humility involves holding others with high regard even when they don't reciprocate. It means swallowing pride even when there is nothing tasty with which to wash it down. It means maintaining good manners and civility and all with an attitude of kindness and sincerity. We are humble because we want to be, and we know it is what Jesus calls us to be. But, sometimes I would like to push the pedal to the floor and run over every person in my path. I think it would feel good to get out my Indiana Jones bullwhip to slash and snap at anyone who comes near. Like an animal tamer in a cage of lions and tigers I would hollar, "back! back! back you beasts!" Of course, if I let myself go wild, the first person I would hurt would be some poor, helpless, purely humble individual who least deserves my wrath. And then I would fail to get a single ounce of pleasure from my tirade . . . and humility would shame me for a while . . . and remind me that pride deceives and brings dishonor. The weariness of humility is always more rewarding and satisfying than the payoff of pride. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9)