Pride

I have had to look at myself this Christmas season and really think why I find it so easy to give and not receive. Is it really because of what the Bible says, or is there more to it. I have had to think about how many times I have asked for help verses how many times I have offered help. What am I getting when I help someone, when I issue them kindness through words, I am getting the acknowledgement that I helped that person, but man when someone tries to do that for me, why am I so taken back by this, why do I say I do it myself, I do it my way, why do I avoid asking for help?

PRIDE. My pride of it all gets in the way. Pride says I can help others, but man I don't need any help. I can say I am there for my fiance, but when she tries to be there for me I allow my pride to stand in the way. The Bible talks about pride. When I offer to help, I must be willing to receive help too, what a concept, being able to give and to receive with a gentle heart.

I have thought love was just giving, but how can love be just giving if someone else loves you, I must be able to receive that love from them, I must be able to receive the same things that I want to give. Love is so much more about both, it may not be gifts, but my time and their time, or there help in an area that I need it and even in the area I don't need it, I must not allow pride to stand in the way. Have I been to proud to receive help in the past? I have and admitting my failures in this is not just enough, I have to be willing to allow God to work in this area in my life.

God sent His son Jesus to be born as a human, that is what this Christmas time is about. He gave us this gift and we have received it, but isn't it time that we not only receive it, but also receive the idea that love isn't just about giving, but love is about being able to receive as well.

I thought it was just prideful, but not just pride it is selfish of me, because I was thinking only of myself when in fact the other people were looking to assist me in ways that I didn't want help. This is all tied together and I didn't even realize it, Christmas time it is so hard for me to receive the gifts that people give, but just like I, they love to give and receiving them requires a humble heart and being able to say thank you requires me to be honest not only with myself, but with others. This Christmas time it is not only about the gifts that we give, but also about receiving.

Pride is selfish, it is time that I allow God to change me, to do that deep work in my heart and teach me not only how to give, but also how to receive. How does my lack of receiving affect the other person? How does that make them feel? Oh man, I really failed in regards to this. Oh Lord Help me to receive with a humble heart.

Additional thought:
I added a section about The Love Dare, because it talks about all these things that I have learned and continue to learn. I will continue to add dares through out the time, because I think it will continue to establish them in me as well.