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“The haughty man strides like a peacock, his shadow stretching long behind him—yet it vanishes the moment the sun sets. His words are thunder without rain, loud and empty, leaving only echoes of his own name.” ~ Author Unknown 
My heart yearns for connections with people who possess open minds, tender hearts and a distinct appreciation for the taste of humble pie.
In a world that rewards noise over depth and encourages recognition over reflection, humility is the first virtue to fade into the abyss.
When self-promotion becomes the defining measure of one’s worth, collapse is not far off.
Proverbs 16:18 reminds us;
I read somewhere: “A humble soul moves like a quiet river, steady and unseen, nourishing the earth without claiming the rain. Its voice is a whisper in the wind—felt, not heard—yet the world leans in to listen.”
- The loud and arrogant are lionized.
- The rich and famous capture our attention.
- The humble amongst us are considered weak.
Marsha, a great admirer of the 16th American president, Abraham Lincoln, often reminds me: to counteract the poisonous feel to this selfish age reread some of the stories from the life of arguably our most humble president.
It was said of Lincoln he walked among people as a servant of their better angels, not the master of their fate. In every victory he saw only the grace of circumstance, never the glory of self.
So here’s a serving of some of Old Abe’s delicious humble pie.
Enjoy…
Two-Faced Lincoln
One day, during a debate, a political opponent called Lincoln “two-faced,” trying to insult him. Lincoln smiled, paused for a moment, and replied:
“If I had another face, do you think I’d be wearing this one?”
The crowd roared with laughter — and the sting of the insult disappeared.
*****
The President Who Stood Up for a Cleaning Woman
During the Civil War, the White House was a constant flurry of soldiers, messengers, and politicians. One morning, as President Lincoln walked through the corridor, he saw an elderly Black woman — a White House cleaning attendant — struggling to move a heavy broom and bucket out of his way.
The woman tried to step aside, embarrassed to be in the president’s path. But Lincoln immediately stopped and said,
“Let me help you with that.”
Before she could protest, the President of the United States — a tall, weary figure, still wearing his coat and stovepipe hat — stooped down and picked up the broom and bucket himself, clearing the way for her.
The woman stood speechless. Later, when someone remarked that Lincoln shouldn’t be seen “doing a servant’s work,” he simply replied,
“If I’m too proud to help a woman with her broom, I’m not fit to be President.”
*****
The General Who Refused to Remove His Gloves
Once a proud Union general arrived at the White House and met Lincoln. The general, perhaps testing the President, did not remove his gloves when shaking Lincoln’s hand.
Lincoln, seeing the gesture, immediately took off his own glove and shook the man’s hand warmly. Those watching thought Lincoln would be offended — but he wasn’t. After the meeting, he simply said,
“I would rather take a man’s hand than his manners.”
*****
Cleaning His Own Boots
When Lincoln was a young lawyer riding the circuit in Illinois, he once stayed at an inn with several other lawyers.
The next morning, a fellow attorney noticed Lincoln sitting in the corner, polishing his own boots. Surprised, he said, “Lincoln, you polish your own boots?” Lincoln smiled and replied,
“Whose boots do you polish?”
*****
Carrying a Widow’s Firewood
Before his presidency, when Lincoln practiced law in Springfield, Illinois, he learned that an elderly widow couldn’t afford firewood. One freezing night, he took it upon himself to chop and deliver a load to her doorstep.
When she later found out who had done it, she told her neighbors, “Mr. Lincoln is a man who doesn’t just talk about kindness — he lives it.”
*****
The Servant’s Chair
During his presidency, Lincoln’s staff once prepared a chair for him at a meeting of generals. A servant stood awkwardly nearby, unsure where to sit. Lincoln noticed, rose from his own seat, and said,
“Here, you take my chair. I’ve been sitting all day.”
He remained standing through the discussion.
*****
Lincoln carried power as if it were borrowed, and bore praise as if it belonged to someone else.
Just a thought…
Pat
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