There’s a song by Katy Nichole that is called, “Things I Wish I Would’ve Said.” One lyric that kept standing out to me is “What if neither one of us was right.” I kept thinking about this lyric. Imagine if we would think about this when we are engaging with our friends and family? What if as we are making our social media posts, we would consider this lyric? What if, when we are at work, in school, going about our daily lives, etc., if we would find ourselves more open to this possibility?
Our pride often gets the best of us. We want to be right. We want to have control. We want to look better. We want to win. We want to be top dog. I know I personally hate being wrong. It feels like salt being poured into a wound. As a perfectionist, it can be frustrating. It took a long time for me to get over myself, to get over the need to be right. For some of us, not being right over a big or small matter will immediately be felt as a consuming failure. Even today, there are still those moments when I try to have the last word, when I try to fight back when I’m clearly not in the right. All of this is pride.
Our world would be a better place if we all lived considering “what if neither one of us was right.” We would listen more and love better. We would fight less. I would imagine we would have more peace and tranquility. We would definitely have more growth as we take the time to acknowledge other people, other ideas, other possibilities, because we won’t be so full of ourselves.
So how do we get over ourselves? In 1 Peter 5:5, we are told to clothe ourselves with humility. This is rooted in thanksgiving and service. We read in Psalm 107:21: “Let them give thanks to the LORD for His faithful love and His wondrous works for all humanity” (CSB). God creates, provides, and sustains. He deserves our thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:21 reminds us that we are to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ Jesus. Remember, He desires that we love God and love people. Submission is a big part of love in action.
None of this is an easy or an instant fix to our pride, but as we continue to press forward with grateful hearts and servant hands, we will be less focused on ourselves and less concerned about being right.
Tania Gutekunst 