How powerfully insightful for life! The world is filled with people vying to play first violin. But can we play the second fiddle with enthusiasm? Finding our own unique role and being content in it—this is where flourishing happens. This is where life gets interesting. This is where the joy comes out.

Simple, powerful words like these can do wonders: “Isaiah, I was being impatient just now. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?” I believe that being willing to say that to my children influences the culture of my family for good far more than any brilliant parenting advice I could offer.

I’d put it this strongly: if you are in a position of authority, you will become either a servant or a bully. Your authority will be experienced by others as either freedom or oppression, depending on whether it is marked by humility.

But most of us, in the ordinary course of life, should cultivate wonder and gratitude at the miracle of being alive. Every day is a gift. There is no end to the wonder and joy of it.

When we correct others, we must do so in a spirit of gentleness. Gentleness is not weakness: it is strength under control.

One powerful way to combat these unpleasant feelings is to remember that all of those who are serving Christ are ultimately on the same team.

O Lord, teach us how to pursue true humility that honors you. Give us courage to embrace those vulnerable places where we must rely fully on you. Give us freedom to enjoy the life you have given us to the full. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts that are grateful. May everything we do be bathed in humility: toward others, the world you have

No matter how old we are, how much we’ve studied, or how much experience we have, we will always be learning and growing. Therefore, we must remain teachable for our entire lives. Interestingly, we often learn the most from unlikely sources—from people we are tempted to look down on or people who are very different from us.

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call “humble” nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you