No kidding. Along with the normal reduction or cessation of favorite TV shows and treats, I thought I'd try reducing something else: the desire to be the first with my opinion and the urge to try and get a laugh. I HATE the unfilled silence and fool myself into thinking that it's "helpful" to fill it with something pleasant, inevitably out of my mouth.
This year, I want to grow in humility in "unimportant" everyday conversation. As successful adults, we all learn to manipulate and form our speech to shift blame or to draw attention. Choosing words is a charity, to help someone see a mistake without making them feel stupid, but it also allows us to shield our ego. And whose glory does it serve to be the first with the out-of-the-side-of-the-mouth comment?
To get it into my heart, I want to remember the beautiful prayer by Cardinal del Val, the Litany of Humility:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may, increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
So, with God's Grace, I'm going to tickalock.
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