A Lesson in Pride

I have always thought of myself as a humble lady. If you ask me, I will tell you, I treat people equally and fairly.

There’s a car wash (run by a young guy) who does his thing within the compound where my office is situated. The car park is also beside his stand, so I usually encounter him every day. I do greet him and vice versa.

One day, I came to work and I told him; “Good morning.” He replied “how are you?” I got angry and thought, can you imagine? I am greeting this small boy and he’s telling me “how are you” how dare he….who does he think he is? Is it because I am bringing myself low to even greet him first? blablabla. Long story short, I never greeted nor spoke to him again.

About a week later, I went to a friend’s place, on my way out I met her husband coming in, and he’s by all standards higher than me. Before I could greet him, he told me “madam, good morning.” And the next thing I heard myself saying from nowhere was “how are you?” then he replied, “I am fine.” Later, I was speaking to my friend and she told me her husband was laughing at me when I told him how are you. I was relieved he didn’t take offence.

As I dropped the call, I remembered my experience with the car wash man and it mirrored this scenario, only the roles were reversed. He found it funny and didn’t see anything wrong with it while i saw it as an outrage. I felt very low as I realized my wrong thinking and behavior.

Deep within me I heard; “what makes you better? Does it really matter who greets first and how it’s answered? Who gave the blueprint on who is high and who is low?

Had I not experienced it first hand, I doubt if I would have seen any error in my ways.

The next day, I came to the office and saw him going about his daily job; washing cars; he didn’t see me but I saw him. I went to meet him and in a voice loud enough for him to hear, I said “good morning !” I was waiting for his “how are you,” so I can reply with a robust “I am fine!” but he said “good morning Ma’am, welcome, how are the children?

I was disappointed because I wanted God to see I got the message loud and clear and I am willing to change but.. oh well, he knows my heart.

I have never felt lighter walking to my office. He didn’t know the drama going on neither did my friend’s husband know the lesson he thought me but I am glad the purpose of it was achieved. The car wash man and I are now friends; in fact I make sure I greet him with a smile always and a little chitchat once in a while.

I am also learning to look out for God’s corrections, as I ask the Holy Spirit for help in seeing and yielding.

Had any such experience? Let’s hear you

xoxo