Earlier this year I did a study on the tongue. The book of James tells us what a powerful part of our body the tongue is. He gives tribute to a person who is never at fault in what they say--he says they're perfect and able to keep their whole body in check. He really has a great deal to say about the tongue in just a few words; check out James 3:1-12.
My dad, who loves nothing better than a good joke often tells how a fisherman can be totally honest when telling "how big" their fish was. He holds his thumb and fingers apart (the real size of the fish) while spreading his arms open wide (insinuating the size was the arm width, not the finger width). This silly little bit of humor is actually what we do when we boast. We are usually making something we've done seem bigger and better.
My friend, God made you just the way you are, warts and all. You are His glorious creation and He loves you very much.
I remember attending an event where the ice breaker was to tell another person publicly something you truly appreciate about them. The speaker then proceeded to inform us that the things we appreciated about another are the very things we endeavor to do or be ourselves. That was very thought provoking to me. I don't need to make myself seem better than I really am. I am a work in progress. God is still working on me.
I can show love by being real about who I am, not feeling the need to exaggerate. If I am trying to be an example to someone I am mentoring or a group I am leading they will learn best from the errors I have made and learned from instead of from my perfection. If I am perfect (my boast) they may well say, "Well goodie for you." But if I am humble and admit to my mistakes they will be more likely to say, "If she can mess up so can I. And God can still use me too."
Be the real you--not the picture-perfect version we want the world to see. The real you is beautiful in our Father's eyes.
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