Humility signifies lowliness or submissiveness and it is derived from the Latin humilitas.
The earth which is beneath us.
It comes from the same root as 'humility', but also the same root as 'humiliation'. As restricted to persons, humility is understood also in the sense of afflictions which may be inflicted by others, as when a man humiliates another by causing him pain or suffering.
Humility in a higher and ethical sense is that by which a man has a modest estimate of his own worth, and submits himself to others.
Much of what is proffered as “humility” is likely false humility. You know, the kind of convenient, voluntary, “awe shucks,” comments made when the praise we secretly seek actually comes our way. Oftentimes, the mask of false humility consists of publicly deprecating oneself, one’s God-given gifts and talents, and one’s providential accomplishments for the sake of receiving approval from others.
Yet, behind the mask of false humility is the notion of self and one’s own importance. Instead of seeing one’s insignificance in relationship with God, false humility strives to convince ourselves and others that our will is likely God’s will.
False humility thinks it has achieved a sense of humbleness in comparison with others. Even so, a truly humble person does not refer to themselves as humble, because they are not thinking of themselves at all. Rather, they are intent on submitting to God’s will and focusing on how they can love others.
Humility, true humility, recognizes the nothingness of self in relation to God and gratefully accepts the providential humiliations that come our way. With eyes fixated on Christ and not on self, authentic humility embraces the sufferings at hand, believing that God is molding us for eternity and perhaps using us in a way that we currently cannot see to divinely touch others.
It is the kind of humility that shirks itself from pride so that we might know God and his divine providence as they are, not as we may wish them to be.
Humility is usually not intrinsically developed but likely to be achieved involuntarily through suffering and experiencing humiliation itself.
It is oftentimes garnered through the trials and fires that life unexpectedly imposes, where the impotent self sooner or later surrenders to the omnipotent Creator of us all.
Learning to grow in a humility born from Christ’s sacrificial love is learning to be grateful to God, not for what is graciously given, but also for what is painfully taken at times.
Humility and Suffering
The core of all great religious teachings.
Kahlil Gibran, “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”
Our personal suffering is often a sacred initiation into a deeper experience of who we are as people, and why we’re on the earth.
Suffering exposes self-righteousness, conceitedness and feeling that has been lodging somewhere within the recesses of our hearts. Suffering doesn't manufacture these items. It solely reveals what's already there.
The actually humble person, the one who stands in awe before God, squares his shoulders and through Christ and His atonement and crucifixion is strengthened in his suffering. He could struggle and wrestle with God, however ultimately, he can return to God and fully surrender like Job did.
To humble ourselves in our suffering, to surrender to our suffering allows God to show up and reveal to us His ultimate plan for us.
Humble people have the right frame of mind for putting to use the gifts God has given them. If you follow Jesus, you follow a God who dined with tax collectors and traitors, washed his followers' feet, and died like a criminal with criminals.
This is the heart of being humble: serving a God who is greater than us.
It is therefore a virtue which is necessary for salvation, and as said by our Savior to His disciples: "Learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls" (Matthew 11:29).
He also teaches this virtue by the words, "Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven" (Matthew 5:11-12).
From the example of Christ we may learn the practice of humility.
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."
-- C. S. Lewis
Everything Mother Mission Statement
The die has been cast. The decision has been made. We have stepped over the line. We won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.
We do not need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, applause, or popularity. At Everything Mother we don’t have to be right, first, the best, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.
We live by faith.
We lean on Christ’s presence.
We love with patience.
Live by prayer, and labor with the power of God’s grace.
Our face is set. Our gait is fast; our goal is Heaven.
Our road is narrow, our way is rough, our companions may be few, but our Guide is reliable, and our mission is clear.
We cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. We will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
We, as mothers won't give up, shut up, let up or slow up until we have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
We are disciples of Jesus. We are Mothers, Everything Mother. We must go until He comes, give until we drop, speak out until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no difficulty recognizing me. My banner is clear: I am a part of the few and I am not ashamed.
With this resolve, we continue to send out the intention to be happy; to encourage, to educate, to enliven others; to evolve and discover the wonders within ourselves.
We love; to live life to its fullest; to be a lifelong student of learning; to be an excellent partner, friend and lover of life."