True Humility

I had an interesting conversation with a husband recently. Simply, he was relating to me how he had made some mistakes in his marriage and how his wife was really chewing him out regarding those mistakes. He made a statement to me, “I am trying to be humble during those times.” He was relating how he was trying not to fight back and to stay calm.
Well, I certainly could relate to that guy. I have made many mistakes in my marriage and they have hurt my wife a good deal. But I think that he was missing the meaning of true humility. As I talked to him about it, his eyes looked like saucers and he acknowledged that what I was asking was “really hard”.
Here’s what I said: If I am getting yelled at, even if it is being done in a most ungracious way, I think that I deserve every word of it.
On one hand, as a sinner, I do not deserve grace but I deserve God’s judgment. But that is not the point I was making. As the husband who is to lead, provide and protect my wife, I am responsible. I am responsible for washing her with the word, for loving her like Christ loves His church. I have a responsibility for her spiritual well being and sanctification. If she is losing her temper with me, it is a direct refection of my leadership of her. Actually, it is good for me to hear all that she has to say, because it is a blueprint for the work that I have ahead of me in loving and leading her.
I think that is true humility - seeing myself in the light of God’s truth and accepting what that means.
And I have only one response to that truth – I need a redeemer. I need the grace (charity, free gift) of God. I need some good news – I need the gospel.

Note: I want to make something perfectly clear. My wife does not yell at me. While my wife is not perfect, she is a gracious and gentle servant. She is a gift from God that is far greater than I deserve. I also want to make it clear that what I said above i believe, but don't always practice. ~sigh~ Sanctification is progressive.