Do Something Good For Someone And Then…

Keep your big mouth shut!

This, for me, goes a very long way to defining humility.

I was always Johnny-On-The-Spot when someone was troubled, in harms’ way or hurt. It seemed that accidents happened close by and I’d be there to help. But I had a motive despite the coincidental nature of most of these circumstances.

I wanted attention. I wanted someone to pay attention to me, to reward me. Self-centered in the extreme because if I didn’t receive attention or reward I got angry and pouted. Of true humility I knew absolutely nothing.

Then came AA and wise oldtime AA members including Matt and Rick. We talked about humility. We spoke about doing good things for others. Then they laid it on me, thankfully.

I can’t remember who, I believe it was Matt, who listened to me at that meeting speak of doing something good for someone else. After the meeting he told me that whatever I’d done good no longer counted. Still with my reward system nature I was affronted by his comment. What do you mean it doesn’t count?

To find true humility you do something good for someone and you don’t tell anyone you did it. That’s the way it works! Otherwise you’re simply doing what you’d always done – brag. EGO is all about bragging. And EGO is easing God out. So, keep your big mouth shut!