When God Gives the Lesson
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Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3 (ESV)
Waiting in my vehicle at the school pickup and drop-off line was often my greatest test of patience. In the mornings, some parents waited until the last minute to give instructions to their children while everyone else was forced to sit tight. Other times, children caused the bottleneck as they rummaged through the vehicle looking for a misplaced item.
I joked with one of the teachers that the school needed two drop-off lanes, one for parents who knew they were bringing their child to school and one for those surprised to be there.
Humor kept me in check. Until one day…
While waiting in the after-school pickup line, a teacher asked me to move my vehicle so she could get out of the parking lot. She sounded frantic as she explained she couldn’t be late for an appointment.
I agreed, but I wasn’t happy. I’d have to maneuver my car as if playing a Jenga game, hoping no one behind me would think I was leaving and steal my place. While I hid my annoyance from her, the Lord knew my heart.
At the time, I didn’t stop to think of myself as selfish or inconsiderate. I thought she should’ve planned better and parked somewhere different in the first place. When pride takes the wheel, others become insignificant. Our own selfish interests become all we can see.
The next day, shortly before it was time to pick up my daughter, I became terribly ill. I was so weak from my illness that I couldn’t drive. I called the school, explained my predicament, and asked if my daughter’s teacher could bring her home.
Instead of her regular teacher, the same woman who I’d judged negatively the day before showed up with my daughter, along with chicken soup, crackers, and a heaping dose of conviction.
Her kindness far more represented the character of Christ than my own behavior. While I was annoyed to move my car a few feet, she drove out of her way to bring my daughter home. The Lord used her humble act of service to expose the selfish pride in my own heart.
As our children go back to school, let us cover them in prayer and encourage them in their faith, but let us also remind them that the greatest teacher is Jesus. Through His Word and through His life, He teaches us all how to treat others.
Later that same day, I recovered enough from my sickness to fully enjoy the soup and crackers—not so much eating the crow. It was a lesson in humility I’ll never forget.
Questions for Reflection:
1. What situations in your life challenge your patience? How might things change if you ask God to give you a heart of humility and the desire to respond with Christ-like love?
2. Have you ever felt convicted by someone else’s kindness, knowing you harbored unkind thoughts toward them? How did their actions change your perspective?
3. Busyness demands inward focus. What are some ways you can slow down and see others as more significant than yourself? What would that look like in action?
