Mere Christianity – C. S. Lewis (1952)
The saying, Pride goes before a fall seems more than apt on occasions. I expect that we have all known someone that revels in something only to find that it has been taken away from them. Often this is not by their own making and therefore the pride is replaced with jealousy.
The notion by some people that they are better than others can be ingrained. There are some that have a privileged upbringing and lifestyle that never consider themselves better than anyone, regardless of their successes or failures, and then there are those that not only strive to better themselves but want the world to know about it.
The billionaire, Alan Sugar constantly reminds people that he started off as an impoverished Essex lad from a Jewish family, and that he dragged himself up to where he is not by being a shrewd businessman. He boasts about not having any formal qualifications yet has been happy to accept two honorary doctor of science awards and since being knighted he insists that he is always addressed as Lord Sugar.
There are those that are the complete opposite of this. The ones that, although they could count themselves as above others just get on with things out of public view. Unfortunately, is all too often the case that their actions only come to light once they are no longer with us. The ones that look after those around them in ways that are not usually considered, those that support people, charities, projects quietly or make the funds available for something very personal to a few people. The ones that take a quiet pride in what they do, relishing the fact that even if they are so-called celebrities their fans and the general populous have no idea what they are doing.
Pride can be silent … the certificates on the fridge, the achievements of those you love, the way you feel about yourself when you do something that although others know about it they do not know it was you that did it. The unsung pride of helping someone fulfil their dreams. There is no accolade required, no need for thanks or a song and dance about it … you have a pride in yourself that doesn’t require you to look down on anyone.