Shane Claiborne, who spent a summer in the slums of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, wrote about her experience there. She said, “People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Sometimes it’s like they wonder if she glowed in the dark or had a halo. She was short, wrinkled, and precious, maybe even a little ornery â€" like a beautiful, wise old granny. But there is one thing I will never forget â€" her feet. Her feet were deformed. I wondered if she had contracted leprosy. But I wasn’t going to ask, of course. ‘Hey Mother, what’s wrong with your feet?’ One day a sister said to us, ‘Have you noticed her feet?’ We nodded, curious. She said: ‘Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds them. And years of doing that have deformed her feet.’ Years of loving her neighbor as herself deformed her feet.â€�²

Humility is something that is of great importance in the Christian life, but unfortunately many times gets lost in the shuffle of our busy lives. Humility means that our focus is not on ourselves, but instead on those around us. If we are always focused us, we will miss the opportunities God gives us to bless others, minster to others, care for others, and be God’s presence to others. We seek to do this not for glory or recognition, but because that’s what God calls us to do, and when done in humility, God will bless us.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, give me your eyes to see the needs of those around me. Give me your heart of compassion to genuinely care and serve those around me with love and humility. Not to seek my own benefit or recognition, but to be your presence to this hurting world and show them that in you we have hope and life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV).

2. www.sermoncentral.com