The Garden of Pride

God said:

However you do things in life, there are other ways for you to do them. There are other platforms to come from. Because you have always been a certain way doesn’t mean you must continue being the same way. I ask you to adjure from saying: “That’s how I am. That’s how I will always be.” Why would you close the door on life? Why would you let so much in, and no more, and feel virtuous about it? I have seen those who sometimes are smug in telling someone off, for instance, as if that were a proud thing to do. How can that be a proud thing to do? Why would anyone wish to be proud of that?

You may want change in your life, yet you may want change without your changing. Let Me put it this way. You want change in your life, and, at the same time, you don’t want to have to change. You may want new gifts from life, and yet want everything else as before. It is your life I am speaking of. Life is meant to be a flowing stream, not a stationary object.

What is so hard about letting a little change in? I am suggesting you change your mind about something. I am suggesting you let the past go. Past ways are of the past. They have not always held you in good stead.

In a sense, when it comes to certain areas of life, you have been rigid. You have been for one thing and against another. You have held prejudices. You have said: “I will never change my mind about this.” And you have held on to an opinion as if an opinion were a rare antique to be polished. An opinion is just an opinion. Opinions do not have to be permanent. Your stance in life does not have to pretend to be permanent. If you feel you have been casting pearls before swine, you have some changing to do.

You do not always have to be at the peak of the mountain. Gain a wider frontier. Be humble rather than prideful. If you play baseball, learn how to pitch more gainfully, learn how to catch more gainfully. Take a chance on change.

Even when you are unwilling to budge, odds are that life will pull the carpet out from under you. Life is patient, yet it does not stay still. True, you are a creature of habit, yet you are more than that. Do not purse your lips quite so tightly. Do not be quite so sure that you know all the answers.

Rather than be smart, be kind. Rather than show off, don’t show off. When you put someone down and make him or her feel small, you don’t make yourself big. Rather, you are showing your size. Add to your arsenal of ways to reveal yourself in the world. When it comes to kindness and thoughtfulness, you are on the right track. Do not close out life by squashing anyone else.

Kindness and thoughtfulness do not mean that you put up with everything. It’s just that you don’t always every minute every time put yourself first. There is some truth to the idea that the one who comes last comes first when he who comes last is not inordinately proud of himself. Do good deeds, and disappear from the garden of pride. Be virtuous without pinning medals on yourself.

You don’t have to have the last word. You are not to punctuate life. You are to serve. You are not to capitalize on your assets in life. You are not to make a big thing of them.

Be kind and courteous. Be considerate of your fellow man. If this means changing your ways, then, by all means, change your ways. Be the sun that shines. Add to the happiness of your corner of the world.

Read Comments

Again

This heaven letter seems very familiar, have I read it before, or is it familiar because it speaks strongly to me. God has to repeat himself before it finaly gets through. Let the changes come.Changes are there every day. I have come to say repeatedly I am Happier tpday then I was yesterday but not as happy as I will be tomorrow. My grandson was hear yesterday and that was fantastic then today someone rang me about him trying for a job somewere and he had given his grandfather as a referee. You know what, I even start to be not upset, with what our leaders are doing. So yes big changings and I love it THANK YOU GOD LOve to ALL Jack

This message is pertinent to

This message is pertinent to me because I have been struggling with wanting to feel proud of myself and express my talents and also with how much is too much? Too much is called pride, but it is hard for me to discern. I don't want to squash anyone, but it seems like that is what I have done. I am proud of my knowledge; I feel I can offer it, I feel it is my talent. What is the use of having a talent if it is not spread around? What else can I do with it? Others get to show off with their college degree, their job, their children, so why can't I show off my talent? It is a hard thing to learn. It is hard to get rid of pride, because it gives me energy and makes me feel I have something to offer the world. But if they are not going to like me because of it, then I know I have to change. Thanks for a thought provoking letter.

Beloved Julie, talents are

Beloved Julie, talents are meant to be expressed. Please express your talent here. There has to be a difference between pride and offering something to the world. God wants us to feel good about ourselves.

God bless you,

With love,

Gloria

If you have to be a showoff let it be of love.

At any moment of life in the sacred second of living the now we are exactly what we are in that moment.
What leads to that moment is our story and storyboard.
We get to tell our story it as it unfolds according to our choices.
Oh yes, there are "voices" we choose or reject.
Heaven Letters help us choose HOW to listen to THE VOICE of good choice.

George

This are truly amazing words

This are truly amazing words and the message did hit home! Thank you so much heavenletters for God is speaking to me through you. Words are not enough to describe how you are making me see life and myself at a different positive persepective.

How glad we are to have new

How glad we are to have new people come to this forum -- and what a comment you made, Belle!

Belle,will you you email a candid informal photo of you, and we'll get you up on the Reader Comment page of the website? To see what the Reader Comments look like, click the link in the right margin.

When you send photo to me, remind me where I can find your comment, will you please?

Do you subscribe to Heavenletters? I couldn'[t find you in the data base. Where do you live?

Great words..so true we

Great words..so true we should write them on the wall!!!

Hurray! Such a good idea!

Hurray! Such a good idea! May the words be written on the wall of all hearts.

God bless you. Post some more!