Last week we looked at the magic of five simple words, “I am proud of you!” We each need to hear those words spoken to us. They inspire us with self-confidence. They assure us of our worth.

Pride is both a blessing and a curse. There is another side of pride we need to avoid and help our children avoid. God the Father declared to the world His pride in His Son, Jesus Christ, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” With His Father’s pride ringing in His ears, Jesus began His ministry – a man of 30 years old.

Wait a minute! What was the very next thing to happen to Jesus? Satan led Him into the desert. Twice Satan tempted Jesus with a statement starting, “If you are the Son of God …” If the Father really is proud of you … Satan was playing on the other side of pride.

There is a story told of 2 ducks and a rather egotistical frog that had developed a friendship. When their pond dried up, the ducks knew they could easily fly to another location, but what of their friend the frog? Finally they decided to fly with a stick between their two bills, and with the frog hanging onto the stick by his mouth. All went well until a man looked up and saw them in the sky. “What a clever idea,” said the man. “I wonder who thought of that?”

“I did,” said the frog.

Alexander Whyte said, “It is out of self-love that all other evil passions spring.”

William Secker stated, “I will not say a good man is never proud, but I will say that a proud man is never good.”

“Did you notice how we shook that bridge?” said a flea to the elephant he was riding, after crossing an old bridge.

In 1717 France’s Louis XIV died and his body was laid in a golden coffin. He had called himself the “Sun King.” His court was the most magnificent in Europe. To dramatize his greatness, he ordered that during his funeral in the cathedral, there would be only one lighted candle – set on his coffin. Thousands attended the funeral. Bishop Massilon stood to speak. Slowly he reached down and snuffed out the candle, saying, “Only God is great!”

Let’s teach our children the importance of pride in self and also the evil of pride in self.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.