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Pride vs. Humility (by request of kaile)
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Pride vs. Humility (by request of kaile) |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States 
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Pride vs. Humility By Larry Chadwick It seemed to be the peak of my career. I was running a five million dollar business with 125 employees at the age of thirty-five. Suits and ties weren’t just for church anymore. And only one person in that company was more important than me…the owner. It was a heady year. I was taught by my parents that pride comes before a fall. They just never taught me how hard the fall would be. Nor did they warn me pride begets pride. In the midst of learning to be humble I took pride in the cause of the termination. Perhaps it was an omen of how slow I would be to learn. It is my conviction, in hindsight, that I was being forced to learn humility. Fired for telling the truth. It took me years to own the facts. Not even truth is a legitimate platform to belittle another. Devastated by the public humiliation of being fired, I lost complete confidence in myself. My income took an immediate hit even with new employment. Jobs were short lived and my wages declined right along with my self-esteem. And jobs became briefer and lack of work lasted longer. Working as a part-time janitor with a four year college degree was perfect for teaching humility but not adequate enough to pay the rent. As my wife left for the summer to be with her sister who had terminal cancer I proceeded to empty our home into storage by myself. Lessons of humility based on reality can create deep loneliness. I moved into a small camp trailer belonging to my parents. House sitting combined with charitable friends and family got us through a year of homelessness and under-employment. But not even generosity can heal a prideful heart. As the lesson of humility was accepted times slowly improved. Ultimately I gained employment in the exact same industry working as a Branch Plant Operations Manager of a six million dollar business with eighty plus employees. This time no one was more important than me. The first day I went to work in a suit and tie. But that night at home I saw myself in the mirror. It was not hard to recognize myself from eight years before. A man with more pride than I could afford. I was flooded with years of lessons about humility. Pride can trap you instantly. But I managed to outwit pride with humility and it wasn’t prepared for such a match. It turned out there was a difference of opinion about what was best for the company. And the investigation proved there was no interest in even hearing my position. Lucky for me I was fired for the second time in my life. We cannot get from others what was never theirs to give. But it is odd how hard it is to find what was ours all along. Self-esteem is hard to survive without. My next job came quickly and with even better pay, less stress and respect beyond belief. Humility is a gift everyone should give themselves. Pride...may it rest in peace. March 31, 2003 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. [This message has been edited by Larry C (04-02-2003 08:45 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2003 Larry Chadwick - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
We cannot get from others what was never theirs to give. ================================= From your mouth to Gods ears... from your pen to our eyes... for the insight offered is a gift. TY for you and all you teach and share.  "and when we get to the pearly gates ... |
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Marshalzu 
since 2001-02-15
Posts 2681Lurking |
Wow this is such a wonderful read, it really brought a tear to my eye. Thanks for sharing  |
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kaile
since 2000-02-06
Posts 5146singapore |
Larry, how I wish the readership in Prose isn't so low so that more people will get to read it... several things i thought 1)parents and teachers always teach us to live an upright, honest life with integrity....they don't say how sometimes telling the truth can hurt you so much...i feel you have presented a more well-rounded picture of what it is to abide by your principles...and perhaps more importantly, how one WILL eventually prevail despite losing out initially when he told the truth, by God's grace and sheer hard work... 2)It was not hard to recognize myself from eight years before. A man with more pride than I could afford. you touched upon how important introspection is and how we must be brave enough to admit the truth to ourselves, as unflattering as it may be... 3)We cannot get from others what was never theirs to give. But it is odd how hard it is to find what was ours all along. Self-esteem is hard to survive without. An affirmative yes!! and the coming of age and the growing of confidence into our own person is a personal journey we all must embark on...my journey wouldn't be as unnecessarily troubled if i felt the self-esteem concept in my teens... life's lessons distilled concisely into a power-packed write...now, if only the readers will come |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
JM, Dang lady...you bring a tear to my eye. You are SO kind to me. Thank you for your generosity and faithfulness.  Marshalzu, Well now, what more could I ask for? Thank you for your kindess. kaile, Such a faithful friend you are. It is so satifying to me to write prose. I agree it is a shame there isn't more interest. But look at the people who read in here and how wonderful they are. It couldn't get better than this and you are a prime example of why. You amaze me with your faithfulness to this dad's broken heart. It is so healing for me. Thank you.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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