Many times, we fail to acknowledge how highly we think of ourselves. This along with a sense of superiority can lead us to seek more grace than we are willing to give.
I have often wondered why it is so easy to see the faults of others and be blind to my own.
I believe the answer is we simply do not see ourselves the same way we see others. We can usually justify our behavior while viewing the behavior of others through an entirely different lens.
This reality is commonplace and denying it gives credence to my contention.
As I age, I have become more aware of my need for improvement. In fact, I have grown to desire to be a “little less like me”. The guy who can be quick to speak and slow to listen. The one who has an opinion or view on anything and everything. The person who can think he has all the answers even before the questions had been asked.
Even though I know this has been true at times, I would have still said I was a model worth emulating. That is because I felt I was better than the models I had to follow.
Now I know this was short sighted and I had missed the mark completely. You see, although I have many attributes that could be seen as positive, I have just as many that are negative.
I believe all of this points to the need to be a “a little less like me” and little more like Jesus.
Even as I write those words, I feel empowered by knowing I have His example to follow. I also feel a bit intimidated. I believe this comes in to play as I realize to be more like Jesus, I must be less like me.
This intimidation lessens as I began to understand being more like Jesus is a process that takes a lifetime. The beauty is when we commit to following His example, the benefits far outweigh any effort that may be involved.
How will we know when we are more like Jesus? It will be seen when those around us are being built up by our willingness to love them as we have been loved.
While we know Jesus poured His life out on the Cross, we need to realize He also poured His life into others. It is no different for you and me. If we invest our lives in people, the return on that investment will be changed lives who can change lives.
It may start with something as simple as learning to listen more than we speak. This may sound strange, but most of us rarely listen. If we did, we would realize there are those in our lives who need to be heard. They do not need us to tell them what they should do, they just need to know we hear them.
All this came to me as an epiphany of sorts. When, I began to realize my attitudes and need to be heard or validated had created an unwillingness to listen and consider the needs of others.
My desire to be seen and acknowledged had created a willingness to not see and acknowledge others. This has been an evolution which has helped me see who I am as a man and the areas where I need to change.
I find it interesting, if we allow it, time can help us see where improvement is needed and reveal where the willingness to improve is being avoided.
I will close by saying, to be able to be the best version of ourselves, we are going to have to be more like Jesus and the only way we can do this is by committing to being “a little less like me”.
Romans 12:1-2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
