Humble, according to the dictionary, is “the state of reflecting, expressing, or offering in a spirit of deference.” ~ Voices of Recovery (Kindle Locations 2088-2089)
So, what does deference mean?
Respect, submission, surrender,
accession. “To have respect for ourselves
guides our morals; to have deference
for others governs our manners.”1
“Great men always pay deference to greater.”2
“Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”
Who’s in charge here? Who chooses what defects
will be removed. Not I, said the wise one.
There is a Power Greater than I who deserves
respect, submission, surrender, accession.
It’s not our decision which defects, when, or how.
We just get to stand in awe when we let go enough
for the miracle to happen.
- Laurence Stearn, 2. Walter Savage Landor