Confidence and Humility: The Fine Line
Yesterday was our first day of play practice for Westward Ho! A Story of the Oregon Trail set for September 11, 12, and 13. I know this is obvious, but 124 children is a lot of children! The actors come in costume to the first practice each year so that Mary Evelyn and I can see how they look individually and how they all look in relation to each other. I was impressed with how well they all looked. We had a very fine-looking bunch of pioneers, members of Native Nations, and Independence, Missouri, townspeople.
Practice went well, too. Besides coming to practice with just the right costume, our young actors who help to tell the story best have two essential character traits. They are confident, and they are humble.
They feel comfortable enough in the presence of others that they can move freely and speak up boldly.
“Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous!
Do not tremble or be dismayed,
for the Lord your God
is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9,
. . . for He Himself has said,
“I will never desert you,
nor will I ever forsake you,”
so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper,
I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5b-6
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity,
but of power and love and discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7b
The children who tell the story well are also humble enough to take instruction.
Humble yourselves
in the presence of the Lord,
and He will exalt you.
James 4:10
Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:12
“For everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself
will be exalted.”
Luke 14:11
As parents we constantly work to build up our children’s confidence. We walk a fine line while we do that, as we try at the same time to be sure they also learn to be humble and teachable.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:8
