Pride & Prejudice

Anita Delene Manthe
Jul 13, 2016
3 min read

For three days this past week, my rendezvous point to meet a group of people was at a special needs school. Most of the children at the school have limited functioning ability. Each day I arrived early and had wonderful times of communication with the children, and their caregivers. I observed parents dropping their children at school, and others arrived in groups.

Day two brought a bothering event. A very worn, battered and used small truck arrived with a bunch of children in it. Some sat in front with the driver and others at the back. There was a canopy on the back; however, a window was broken. It is winter here and the children must have been quite cold during their drive to school.

I walked to the truck and noticed the driver assisting the children from the vehicle. And here is where my pride took control. I could not believe he had transported children with disabilities in a questionable vehicle. The broken window in the middle of winter bothered me. I asked if I could help and he said no, he had it under control. One by one he assisted the children. As he closed up the back of the truck, the children hugged him, and thanked him. I caught the words of one child and my prideful assessment of the situation was challenged.

He said, ‘thank you, pastor’.

Pastor!

I turned to the driver and said, ‘excuse me, did that child call you pastor?’

‘Yes’, was his response. ‘My truck broke down and I had to borrow this one to try to get the children to school. I do this because they need love, and this is my opportunity to show them love.’

My pride and prejudice in what qualifies as a ‘loving act’ or not was exposed. As the driver drove off I waived to him.

Day three I noticed the same group of children getting out of a small truck – this one was in good condition, the same driver was at the back of the vehicle assisting the children. When he drove away I waived, and considered my ways. A battered truck with a broken window the day before was his way of showing poor children love. His commitment to bring them to school caused him to use a car that was questionable.

Whose actions showed the greatest love, his or mine?

His act of love was driving the children to school, in getting them there, in following through with his commitment to do so. Yes, they were cold. However when they got out, they beamed in response to the care he had shown them. And me? My concerns with their physical comfort was nice but not necessary. They were based on what I considered to be loving acts. But, his acts – the driver’s sacrificial time to get them to and from school was far greater than mine. He knew commitment, and he knew care – and he knew how to show it to those who relied on him.

What are your expressions of love? What do they say about you? Are they sincere expressions for the good of another, or are they statements to show others who and what you are? How caring and considerate you are? When this is true, it is not love, it is self-indulgence. It is about you, and not them!

No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. (John 15:13-14)
Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17)
Love one another earnestly from a pure heart. (1 Peter 1:22)