It's In Other Words Tuesday and I'm linking up with
Living for God.
Here's the quote she chose for us to write about today:
"He who has no sense of self-importance
cannot be offended or defeated."
W. Phillip Keller
Wow; this is a good one for me right now. In the last two years, my life has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. I've gone from being retired and doing all the things I've always wanted to do to returning to full time work.
In the process of finding work, I was unable to return to my career of 25 years as a cardiovascular nurse. Since I hadn't worked in the field for the last five years, I would have to return to the university for a refresher course. At the time, I needed to get to work immediately.
In the process of job hunting, the Lord found the perfect job for me through my pastor's wife. She works at a private school as a third grade teacher and so I interviewed with the principal. I was hired to help out as a teacher's aide in the PreK 3 class.
I am now sweeping floors, cleaning up paint (and the occasional vomit but I'm comfortable with that), walking three year old children to various activities, reminding them to sit quietly and ...I get to love these children. There are days when I remember the higher positions I held in the nursing field as a Manager and Charge Nurse. But then I look at the faces of these precious children and I know this is where I belong for this season in my life.
I am not offended or defeated as I know that God is sovereign and is fully aware of my situation. I used to always quote the verse about "working as unto the Lord" when people would complain about having to do things that weren't what they felt they were capable of. Even in nursing, I was occasionally yelled at by Type A heart disease patients who were frustrated. So there were plenty of humbling and unpleasant moments.
But I look at the life of Jesus and see His example.
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
But make himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death --
even death on a cross!"
Philippians 2:3-8
So when I am tempted to feel offended or defeated, I remind myself of these verses in Philippians.
How about you? Are you easily offended and defeated?
Blessings and love,