Final Lesson!

The title of this post is a little bit of a misnomer as many lessons have been learned throughout this heart-wrenching move, but as we should be in our house in just over a month, it is time to bring this blog to a close as I venture on to something else. As I said, we are soon-to-be in our house. The shingles are on, the framing and windows are all complete, and the concrete is all poured. The siding is next! In fact, I asked the project manager if I could set up a tent in the basement since everything is enclosed, as well as bring a space heater, and he said I could! However, for my family's sake, I must put the pride aside and hold in such excitement until January. That, ladies and gentlemen, leads us to the final lesson--ridding self of pride!

I don't think anyone who knows me would argue that my greatest flaw (I would argue my greatest attribute) is my pride. Now, most people would agree that pride is not always a bad thing, and in many cases people could use more pride in what they do in life. However, pride is what causes many CEO's, pastors, bosses, and parents to lose their edge as they are unwilling to change their ways or adapt to be relevant to modern society. Pride is what causes friction in, and within, the workplace and within families as people are unwilling to compromise, or at least listen to someone else. Pride is what divides this country as those who run it refuse to listen to others. Therefore, pride comes in many facets and in many different areas of people's lives. Here is a quick list of how my "pride" has been shaken:

1)Left behind a job where I was well-respected by students, colleagues, and community (well, at least I make myself believe that) - Take a part time job where I am the low man on the totem pole.

2)Left behind a house we lived in and owned for 8 years - Move to the in-laws' basement

3)Left a full-time job that allowed us to still save some money after paying monthly expenses (However, North Carolina is one of the worst paying teacher states in the nation) - Forced to see my wife have to take a part-time job and forced to pay for health insurance for the entire family.

4)While living away from family has been hard, we have spent the past eight years of marriage leaning on each other and friends, and we have spent the past six years of marriage creating a "family unit" with our three children - Especially because we have been living in the basement, two other adults have now been thrown into the parenting mix, which my wife loves, but not me, the man of pride!

5)I felt I had a clear purpose as I taught and coached track - With a part-time job and uncertainty about the future, career direction has never been cloudier. I always know what to do!

6)Because we were on our own, we learned how to do things ourselves and how to take care of our own needs - Faith's parents are about the most supportive parents a person could ask for, which is great. However, I hate receiving help and view the "too nice syndrome" as stepping on my pride and my ability to take care of my family.

7)Finally, I've been forced to accept the reality that not all people are like me.  That one hurt. While I don't understand why certain people act certain ways and do things differently from me, that doesn't make them wrong. Well, I still hold that some changes should be made, but we are all different for a reason.

(Appreciate the contrast of the Duke blue for the good and the green/brown for the bad.)

The list could go on, but my point has been made. I know not all of you are people of faith, but it's like God saying, "I'm taking all of 'your' things from you and making you rely on me." As Phillipians 2:3 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself." Hello, that's not easy to do!

Am I still a man of too much pride? Absolutely! I still go hide in the basement or go workout so I won't say something (or yell something) that I will regret, but a work is in progress.

Farm Fact:
On dairy farms, cows are often milked 3-5 times a day, with a range of 4-6 hours between milking. That means some early mornings for farmers and leaves very little time to ever leave for vacation.

For those interested, I will be doing some new things with the blog http://pregnancychildbirthandtheman.blogspot.com/