If you don’t think you’ve got a pride problem, perhaps that’s the first sign that you do.

Maybe you’re like me. I wasn’t one of those kids that did a victory dance when I won a game. I didn’t trash-talk others during sports. And although I DO have a competitive streak (watch out if you try to bend the rules while we’re playing a game—we WILL be consulting the instructions, ha!) I’m not one to brag. I couldn’t possibly be prideful.

But just as soon as I’m sure that I don’t struggle with something, the Lord has a way of using my circumstances to reveal my faults. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Last summer my family of nine moved for the first time in over a decade. My life was consumed with sorting and packing, boxing and throwing away.

And while I absolutely love being a homemaker, my cleaning and organizing skills (or lack thereof) became immediately apparent. It turns out that I love the child-rearing, yardworking, meal-preparing, house-decorating aspects of homemaking so much—to the detriment of the closet-organizing, decluttering, dusting, deep-cleaning aspects. In other words, my storage spaces were a mess.

My main living areas were relatively tidy and clean (ok, at least tolerable), but deep in the basement, closets, and attic hid cobwebs, junk, and a thick layer of dust. Tucked away in hidden storage spaces lay the faults I was too embarrassed for others to see.

The reality of moving made it impossible to keep my biggest messes secret. Our move happened when I was just a few months postpartum, and I desperately needed help. There was no way I could do the work on my own. Others would see my junk, my dirt.

And to make matters worse (or at least more embarrassing) those that were helping and serving were probably some of the best housekeepers. They were used to spotless homes, manicured gardens, and strict cleaning routines–qualities I obviously lacked.

I had no problem accepting help. That was easy for me. The humbling, embarrassing part was that to get help, I had to let people see my mess.

They saw the junk I should’ve gotten rid of, but just didn’t.

They saw the dust and grime in the darkest corners of my hidden storage areas.

But you know the beautiful thing? They accepted me anyways.

Even though they saw the wart-removal kits, and the lice treatment, even though they saw the junk and the dirt I would have rather kept hidden—others served and accepted me.

And after it all I realized that I needed to get over my pride. It shouldn’t have bothered me so much that others saw my faults. Sure, I showed weaknesses that were their strengths—but isn’t that what living in community is about? Helping one another in our lack?

We can keep up appearances, and pretend like we don’t have dust and dirt and clutter hidden away in the closets of our lives. We can stay stuck in our pride. Or we can let others in, even if it means they see our mess.

I realize now what a blessing it was. Not that I strive to be messy, but the reality is that I am weak. I’m not perfect, and there’s freedom in admitting and acknowledging that. Then I don’t have to try so hard on my own.

Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” The enemy wants to keep us trapped in our pride, separated from each other. But when we humbly admit our shortcomings, we see the beauty of helping one another.

I appreciate the strengths others have that I lack. You’re good at one thing, and I another. And when we realize that, we can thrive together in Christ. Our eyes can be opened to the beauty of community instead of being blinded by pride.

So what about you? You don’t struggle with pride, do you? 😉

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