This morning, while out for a run, I had occasion to ponder the subject of pride.
All during my growing up years, pride was essentially considered a bad word in my family. In fact, many of the "real" bad words (sh!#, h@!!, d@mn) were sort of fair game (my grandma often referred to her grandkids lovingly as "little shits").
All during my growing up years, pride was essentially considered a bad word in my family. In fact, many of the "real" bad words (sh!#, h@!!, d@mn) were sort of fair game (my grandma often referred to her grandkids lovingly as "little shits").
But heaven help the person who said they were proud about something. Rather, we said well pleased. As in, "You got straight A's! I'm so well pleased with you!" I still have fond memories of my dad giving me a big hug after I'd accomplished something great and whispering in my ear, "I've just got to say it . . . I'm damn PROUD of you!" And we both knew that it wasn't the 4-letter word that caused him to whisper.
There was tremendous precedent for this vigilance against pride. Pride, after all, caused the destruction of nations; it turned brother against brother; it made people persecute the poor. Open up any book of scripture and you'll find ample evidence of its degrading influence:
"Beware of pride, lest thou shouldst enter into temptation." (D&C 23:1)
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6)
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)
"Let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!" (Jacob 2:16)
Well, this morning as I was running, I started thinking about pride and how, sometimes, it can be a good thing.
* Like when I'm running and starting to feel a bit tired, but I keep going because there is someone up the road a bit walking her dog and I don't want her to see me wimp out and start walking . . .
* Or when I wake up on Sunday morning and I just want to stay in bed all day, but I don't because I don't want anyone at church thinking that I'm flaking on my responsibilities . . .
* And don't even get me started on visiting teaching . . . Admit it - pride is a definite motivator there . . .
* Or when I'm just feeling lazy and really don't want to fold the pile of laundry in my front room, but I do it in case those two Jehovah's Witness ladies come knocking on my door again (they come nearly every week) and I don't want them to think Mormon women are slobs . . .
* Or when it's my turn to bring treats to preschool and I'm tempted to just send that half box of Fruit Loops that's been sitting in my pantry for two month, but instead I bake up a nice, healthy batch of mini-muffins . . .
Why don't the scriptures ever talk about these kinds of situations when they're denigrating pride? I'm sure it wasn't just the Fear of God that motivated Noah to keep looking for that last, stupid aardvark to put on the ark; he just wasn't about to quit in front of his laughing neighbors. And even though it doesn't mention anything in Genesis, I bet pride motivated Jacob to take an extra bath or two during those 14 years that he was wooing Rachel.
My point is this: Pride can sometimes be a good thing, IF it motivates you to do better or be better. Pride can make you try harder and aim higher; it can compel you to put forth that extra effort.
We can all use a little kick in the pants now and then. We all want to make the people around us more than "Well pleased." We want them to be "Damn proud" of us!
9 comments:
This is Tara Priddis by the way. I really liked this post (not that I don't like the other ones this one just made me think). I love seeing the world through your eyes.
This is so funny because I still feel like I'm saying a bad word when I say "proud" because of your family! I clearly remember that it was a BAD word! That being said, I do use because you are exactly right, there do seem to be appropriate times to truly be proud. I think it is when you are self-boastful and proud that it becomes an issue.
well stated!!
See, this has a history. "The Great 'Pride' Discourse" by President Benson. And suddenly, everyone who spoke a language where there was only one word for that expression found themselves scrambling for another word.
I'm with you, and I'm over it. The Lord know my heart; it wouldn't matter WHAT word I used - HE would know what emotion or attitude was behind it anyway!
When I was a kid, it was the time President Kimball decried facecards as somehow being equal to gambling. So we all burned our playing cards. Never mind that I wouldn't know a straight from a flush if either one asked me to dance.
And we got over that one, too. Shouldn't be prideful, shouldn't gamble. That's the message.
Great post! Well done! I'm damn proud of you, too!! ;o)
WOW! You know Mom reads you blog right? Good thing you posted that after christmas. I have my own amazing opinion about this whole topic but I don't blog and I don't want Mom to find out!
In the last few years I have accepted and harnessed THE POWER OF MY PRIDE.
Like, if my house is starting to get out of control, I invite someone over for dinner...because then I know I will make myself clean it.
Or, if I REALLY want to start exercising, I start taking classes--because I know I'll work hard in front of the people. And I know I'll attend every time because I'm such a teacher-pleaser.
Oh yeah, and vt is all about the pride! Who wants to report that you didn't do it?
Maybe some day I will progress to a higher level...but for now I am full of pride and using it to my advantage!
I used to run in the direction of the neighbors because I knew I wouldn't be walking when they drove by, thus I would run farther. I am so shallow and full of pride!
But to make it all better, I gave up running all together :)
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