Dying to Self

When your good is spoken of as evil, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, when you reach out and the door is closed in your face and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patience and with love-that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, any interruption or any annoyance; when you stand face-to-face with folly, wastefulness, spiritual insensibility and endure it as Jesus endured-that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any offering, any climate, any people, any clothing, any shelter-that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good words and when you can truly love to be unknown-that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and you honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances-that is dying to self.

When you can receive correction, reproof, encouragement, advice or exhortation from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart-that is dying to self.

-Author Unknown.