Pride...In The Name Of Love

Pride is a funny thing. I'll be honest, my first reaction when I hear or see that word is a negative one. I think about being prideful and how that goes against Jesus' teachings. I think about pride leading to stubbornness and I know it isn't really a good thing.

But stepping back to really examine pride fully leads me to believe that there is good pride and bad pride...kinda like there is good naked and bad naked, but that's a whole other post! Now, self-pride is a path that leads to bad things and I don't think we can carry the proper level of humility with us and also be prideful, but pride isn't always a negative thing.

We want God to be proud of us for being obedient and loving towards Him...and that's a good thing. When we are really in tune with what God is showing us and we're sensitive to the opportunities to do His work, you better believe God smiles down on us for that.

When those around us, those whom we love and support through thick and then, accomplish amazing things and are being the people God called them to be, we can and should be very, very proud of them and let them know about it!

When those we were blessed with the gift of raising really "get it", when they learn the lessons that we, through God, so desperately want to teach them...that is an occasion to be quite proud of them.

I could go on and on, but I think you understand my point. Pride in and of itself is not a bad thing. Its just all in how you apply it to your life.

There are two people...and you know who you are...of which I am extremely proud today. Some time ago they had a chance to trash their relationship, to just throw in the towel and call it a day. They didn't, and today they are two people very much filled with God's love and with love for each other. Theirs is a relationship that is built to last. A relationship that is centered around God, and I know He looks down today very much a proud father of His two children...proud, in the name of love.

I leave you today with a proverb that displays this very good pride...

The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. -- Proverbs 23:24 NIV