Once a colonel was promoted to general, and he became quite full of himself. One day he sat in his new office and overheard his assistant tell a visitor, “Go on in. He’s not busy right now.” So he turned his chair around, picked up the phone, and pretended to have a conversation. “Yes sir, Mr. President, I’ll get right on that. Thank you for calling Mr. President.” When he turned around he saw it was only a Private. “Well, what do you want?” the general demanded. “Nothing,” said the private, “I’m just here to hook up your phone.” Don’t let pride and ego get the best of you. When you get too full of yourself, you may think you are talking big, but you are not going to truly connect with anyone. The way of God is the way of humility. I love the slogan that says, “There is no limit to the good a person can do if he or she is willing to let somebody else take the credit.” I also love the Proverb that says, “Let another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger not your own lips.” When you end up trying to shine the spotlight on yourself, you end up getting humiliated. Remember what Jesus said, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” Spend your day focusing on others and making the lives of other people better.
– Dr. Tim Thompson