Pride

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Long time ago, when I was assigned in another facility, I used to do sick calls prior to the end of my shift in the morning. I tried to be fast by doing the treatments first, like dressing changes, blood pressure checks, footsoaks [yeah, sounds like spa treatment!]…


Prior to doing my sick call, I usually reviewed the charts and tried to prepare the medications I anticipated to give. For instance, if an inmate was complaining of coughs and cold, I would prepare the pain reliever and cold pills. It made my sick call more organized. Thus, everyone got seen and I finished my list, instead of passing it on for the next day’s sick call.


I asked the inmates direct to the point kind of questions. I tried not to give them more time inside my little office. They would tend to look around and would get familiar with what things were in a particular place. Also, I tried not to be distracted. That was for my own safety and for safe keeping of things around us.


One time, as I was in the middle of my sick call and had probably just 3 inmates left, I was thinking I would have a lot of time left for my charting. When a well-sculpted inmate walked in. I remembered reading his chart and his sick call request, complaining of cold symptoms.


I looked at him once and greeted him a good morning. He sat down on the chair against the table I was using. He flexed his arms. But I didn’t say anything. I knew right away that he wanted me to give him a compliment. He flexed it some more. No response from this nurse.


“Sir, what brings you here today?”

“Uhmmm…I don’t feel good.”

“I know you don’t feel good. Can you be more specific?”

He lifted the sleeves on both of his arms. And flexed his muscles. Every muscle was well-built from using the bars to lift themselves up or do hundreds of push-ups.

“Look at these,” he said, making his muscles move as if he was Hercules.

“What about it, Sir?” I asked, still with the same stoic face.

“Can’t you see?”

“See what? If you came here to just display your muscles, obviously, you’re not sick. Kindly step out of my office now and you may go,” as I called the deputy at the same time and told him about the situation.


The inmate was surprised. Surprised that I didn’t compliment him and that I ended his sick call just like that. But he wasn’t upset with my latter gesture. He went back to his cell. Turned around really quick and said to me, “I’m sorry, Ma’am.”

“It’s okay. But if you’re really, really sick, you can come see us anytime,” I replied.

We can feel good about a job we did so well and there’s nothing wrong with that. But what God hates is the kind of pride that arises from self-righteousness. He hates it because it stops us from seeking Him.

Because of pride, many people do not accept Jesus as their Savior. Pride is a sin that God hates because we are giving credit to ourselves, instead of giving it to God, Who accomplishes things. It is bragging about the glory that truly belongs to Him. It is worshipping ourselves, instead of the Lord Who deserves our worship.

Next time you parade your muscles to anyone, think about Who enabled and sustained you to have those in the first place.

From NIV:

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ~ James 4:6 [ESV]

18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. ~ Proverbs 16:18-19

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ~ Matthew 5:3

4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. ~Psalm 10:4

7For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? ~ 1 Corinthians 4:7

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. ~ Proverbs 8:13

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you.” ~ C. S. Lewis

20 comments:

  1. Funny story! It was touching how your professionalism got through to him. Nice job!

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  2. Rosel, I hope you are having a great visit with your friends. Thank You for taking your time to write to me. Your visits to my blog and by email are always uplifting and make me feel very blessed to have you as a friend and sister in Prayer. Thank You for sharing your story.

    "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble... Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
    James 4:6-7.
    Many Blessing my Friend, Audrey

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  3. This was such a good story. Sad really that this man had nothing but his muscles to be proud about. And so true that man's pride keeps him from soo much. Especially of course his salvation and relationship with God. Enjoy your guests and have a wonderful Sunday. Blessings to you, Debbie








































    This was such a good story.

    This was such a good story. Sad that his muscles were all he really seemed to think he had to be proud about. And how true it is that man's pride keeps him from salvation and a relationship with God. Thanks for sharing all this. Hope you enjoy your guests. Have a wonderful week-end. Blessings to you, Debbie

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  4. Rosel,

    Good grief!! This is sad....he needed attention so badly he had to have a sick call just to attempt to get it. If only he had the Lord he wouldn't need the attention of people he would have the attention and adoration of his FAther!!

    Enjoy your friends.....I am sure they are blessed being with YOU!!!

    I love you my friend

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  5. Thank-you for sharing this great story. If the man would only read is Bible as much as he worked out, or even half the time. Do many of the men read Bibles?
    Blessings,
    Ginger
    We are so glad you posted today. Life is busy and I'm so glad that you can enjoy your company.

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  6. Rosel,

    I pray you are having a wonderfully blessed visit with your family. This story is very convicting. I think we all struggle with pride. I never like admitting it, but I know it creeps in, sometimes. I find myself calling it everything accept what it truly is! Thank you for another wonderful post.

    Blessings, andrea

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  7. Really like that CS Lewis quote.

    I'm always reminded that the only people who Jesus was hard on were the religious people - the ones who thought they had it all together and were self righteous. May I never be like that, may my ears always be listening to God's voice so that I live humbly, gratefully, and caring about the people around me.

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  8. I'm glad you took time to share this story with us. The Bible definitely exalts the humble and not the proud. I think the guy received a good lesson from you.
    Enjoy your company today.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  9. You are a great nurse, and handled that man well. Yes, God has much to say about pride. He hates it. Thanks for sharing that.

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  10. Enjoy your company.

    You handled this situation with the inmate well.

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  11. Wow! What a great post about pride! I really like how calmly you handled it too. Yes, God hates pride and it is good to remember it!

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  12. I always love your stories Rosel! I have been chewing on a post about jealousy, and pride is even at the root of that. Pride is a sneaky foe.

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  13. Great analogy and comparison. Point made! Thank you for sharing and for taking time to visit my SS post.

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  14. Thank you for sharing! Pride...it gets in the way of many things...Your story was proof of that! Your calming demeanor was truly a lesson for this inmate. YOU are a blessing!

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  15. You were confident (almost tough) with him, but courteous and kind. I wouldn't want to mess with you....and you tease me about my guns! Ha.

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  16. Hi Rosel,
    Thank you for taking the time to post this. Sounds like you can handle yourself in a sticky situation. God is good! Enjoy your company and have a wonderful week.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  17. Our God is capable to handle anything! Wow. You certainly have a gift to confront in a loving but stern way. Many blessings continue on you dear one. Thank you for sharing!

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  18. I'm glad I checked in here. Great story - great analogy. You truly amaze me how time after time you come up with these incredible lessons for us. sarah

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"Faith is taking the first step even if you don't see the whole staircase..."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

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