Genuine Humility

The corporal of a small army squad was giving orders to his men to raise a timber to the top of a military building they were constructing. The weight and size of the beam was making it hard for the men to lift it into place. Frequent commands to push, heave and try harder ensued. A passer-by in civilian clothes asked the corporal why he didn’t help them. With astonishment and a pompous attitude the man replied, “I am a corporal!”

“You are – are you?” responded the passer-by, “I was not aware of that. I ask your pardon, Mr. Corporal.” With that the stranger stepped up to the beam and helped the men lift it into place. As he was leaving the stranger said, “Mr. Corporal, when you have another such job and have not men enough, send for your Commander-in-Chief, and I will come to help you a second time.” The passer-by was General George Washington.

“…whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant… Matthew 20:26

Those who don’t exalt themselves spend more time on the sunny side.

Henry Wiebe