Good Pride

I struggle greatly with pride.  My family has been reading about it a good deal lately and my mom and I have had some discussions on it.  The more I think about it, the more I realize that pride is at the root of (at least almost) every other character problem.

But, in a few very select cases, pride can come in handy.

See, pride can get in the way of taking instruction graciously.  I'll be corrected and I can't even think straight, because my pride is right there, in the way of everything.  But, then I read passages in scripture such as these and the tables turn a little:

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

(Proverbs 1:7)

"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."

(Proverbs 18:2)

"Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered."

(Proverbs 28:26)

My pride rebels at the thought of being a fool...so it makes me want to listen to instruction and other people's opinions, rather than just my own.  It makes me want to trust in my own mind less.  

Nobody wants to be a fool.

Funny how the pride that can get me into a bad situation can also get me out of it.

Not sure any of that made sense...

Over and out,

~Emily