tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post2260981559468486330..comments2024-03-18T00:53:33.065+11:00Comments on in all honesty: pride (4) a short history of prideJeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01538502318975037711noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-70577269191969226012009-04-07T09:10:00.000+10:002009-04-07T09:10:00.000+10:00Hi Anna! Good to hear from you again."bad pride ha...Hi Anna! Good to hear from you again.<BR/><BR/>"bad pride has that arrogant haughtiness about it" - yes, I think you're right, a kind of arrogant independence from God<BR/><BR/>"good pride is when we delight in seeing someone do something that honours God. Maybe good pride even has a touch of humility in it (giving glory to God)!" - yes, I agree, definitely "good pride" is humble - oddly enough!! - and focussed on the honour and glory of God.<BR/><BR/>I have learnt, whenever I'm tempted to feel proud of something I've done or am doing, to say to myself, "I have nothing that I was not given". This reminds me of the foolishness of pride (as if I was responsible for anything good in me!) and the importance of giving the glory back to God.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538502318975037711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-19428651012397123702009-04-06T21:43:00.000+10:002009-04-06T21:43:00.000+10:00Hi Jean,I suppose the difference between good prid...Hi Jean,<BR/><BR/>I suppose the difference between good pride and bad pride is that bad pride has that arrogant haughtiness about it, whereas good pride is when we delight in seeing someone do something that honours God. Maybe good pride even has a touch of humility in it (giving glory to God)!<BR/><BR/>Here's to good pride,<BR/>AnnaAnnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-46314180973673144342009-03-25T09:28:00.000+11:002009-03-25T09:28:00.000+11:00Some more options ...Paul says to his spiritual ch...Some more options ...<BR/><BR/>Paul says to his spiritual children, "you are my joy and crown" Phil 4:1 cf 1 Thess 2:19. <BR/><BR/>Children are the "crown" of their grandparents (and parents the "pride" of their children - so maybe they should be telling you they're proud of you!!!) - Prov 17:6.<BR/><BR/>Children are a "blessing" Ps 127:3-5, and a great "joy" and "delight" to their parents (Prov. 23:24-5 cf. 29:3).<BR/><BR/>So maybe you could say to your kids, "You are a great blessing to me", "You bring me great joy", "I thank God for making you who you are" - or simplest of all "I love you!" (I'm sure you've thought of that one!!).<BR/><BR/>This would make a great blog post, wouldn't it?! Great question! Have you got any other ideas of how to answer it?<BR/><BR/>Love Jean.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538502318975037711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-84074248911674296392009-03-25T08:08:00.000+11:002009-03-25T08:08:00.000+11:00Hi Anna,Lovely to hear from you.Paul actually does...Hi Anna,<BR/><BR/>Lovely to hear from you.<BR/><BR/>Paul actually does say he "takes pride" in his spiritual children e.g. 2 Cor 7:4, 8:24 - i.e. that he "exalts" or "boasts" in them. He also describes himself as "ambitious" for the gospel (Rom. 5:20). So there is an appropriate pride - one that is connected to God's work in people, rather than to selfish ambition.<BR/><BR/>So it may not be inappropriate to say "I'm proud of you" - especially if it's connected to a child standing up for Jesus, or loving their brother or sister! <BR/><BR/>Although it's good always to bring this back to God, so they don't become proud - maybe "That's a wonderful painting, isn't it great that God made you able to paint so beautifully?" <BR/><BR/>Or: "I thank God for you!" or: "I thank God for how he's working in you!"<BR/><BR/>It's good for kids to know we "exult" in them, especially in their graces but also in their gifts, because that's how they learn about God's affection for and exulting in us. We're their parents and that's how God's made families, as a small picture of his relationship with his people.<BR/><BR/>But it's also good for kids to know they have nothing they were not given - to give the glory back to God. Otherwise they will become proud and arrogant.<BR/><BR/>I say "I'm proud of you" to my kids sometimes, especially about qualities like love and courage, and I certainly praise my kids ("that was a great job! that's excellent work!"). I try to focus on qualities like "you worked really hard on that" but I also say "that's great". Probably too much at times! - I don't want them to become addicted to praise. I should probably bring it back to God more often - "Isn't it great that God ... ; I thank God that ... "<BR/><BR/>Thankyou for reminding me to glorify God and help my kids to glorify God as I talk to them about the gifts and graces they've been given.<BR/><BR/>The book might have been CJ Mahaney's "Humility: True Greatness"? It's a great book!<BR/><BR/>Love Jean.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538502318975037711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-47024403855927201632009-03-24T22:10:00.000+11:002009-03-24T22:10:00.000+11:00Hi Jean,I've only just come across your posting on...Hi Jean,<BR/><BR/>I've only just come across your posting on pride and I wanted to say thank you for it. I find topical studies like yours so helpful in drawing together thoughts on a topic, without just reverting to our cultural norms- so easy to do when just looking at a few passages. It is encouraging to know how you did it too. <BR/><BR/>A while ago I was startled to find myself saying to my boy "I'm so proud of you", then thinking "God hates pride". What's going on there!<BR/><BR/>I also remember reading a book called "Humility" (I can't remember who by) that suggested that humility was at the heart of a right response to God and that pride embodied the heart of our sinful nature.<BR/><BR/>Any suggestions of more helpful words of encouragement for our children other than "I'm proud of you"?<BR/><BR/>AnnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-88815558844101013402009-03-04T07:41:00.000+11:002009-03-04T07:41:00.000+11:00I think this comment needs a comment.I appreciated...I think this comment needs a comment.<BR/><BR/>I appreciated it.<BR/><BR/>Apart from that, I don't have anything to say. ;)<BR/><BR/>Seriously, it's interesting to notice which posts get comments and which don't, isn't it? Mostly they get comments if someone wants to say "me too!"; sometimes because there's an issue people want to help address. The more theological ones may be helpful for people (I hope!) but are always less comment-y; the ones reflecting on experience, especially if they touch a nerve, are always more comment-y.<BR/><BR/>Which is a long way of saying I really, really appreciate comments, because they're so encouraging, but I'm not heart-broken these days when they don't come.<BR/><BR/>I'm encouraged by your comment all the same. And it turns out I do have something to say. As always. ;)Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538502318975037711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276278342039529509.post-72005043686127226692009-03-03T18:50:00.000+11:002009-03-03T18:50:00.000+11:00I think this post needs a comment. I appreciated ...I think this post needs a comment. <BR/><BR/>I appreciated it.<BR/><BR/>Apart from that, I don't have anything to say.Simone R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05248239853519762027noreply@blogger.com