Humility: Some Churches Practice Foot Washing

Humility: Some Churches Practice Foot Washing

Strange thoughts come to me in the shower. This morning while washing my feet, I thought, “Some churches practice foot washing.”

My second thought was, “No way is anyone washing my feet.” They’re ugly. Then I had a an uncomfortable thought.

“It takes humility to let someone serve you.” I decided to Google, “Foot washing in the Bible.”

I found a list of 15 denominations that engage in the practice of foot washing, and I read an unusual story in John’s Gospel. Jesus washed his follower’s feet. I’m having thoughts about humility.

Humility:

The easy part of humility is serving others.

Every great story has a hero. Al Pachino plays Lt. Col. Frank Slade in, “Scent of a Woman.” The hero in the movie is a High School kid, named Charlie Simms played by Chris O’donell. Charlie gives Lt. Col. Slade a reason to keep living.

I want to be the one who gives help, not the one who receives it.

The hard part of humility is being served.

“All the giving in the world won’t bring success, won’t create the results you want, unless you also make yourself willing and able to receive in like measure.” Bob Burg and John David Mann in The Go-Giver

Reflections:

Team members love to please leaders they admire. When you let others serve you, you humble yourself and you elevate them.

1. “Could you lend me a hand?”
2. Seek input. “What do you think?”
3. Affirm service. “You helped me a lot.”

You model humility when you serve others. And you model humility when you let them serve you.

Interestingly, after washing their feet, Jesus doesn’t say, “Wash my feet.” He says, “You ought to wash each other’s feet.” He turns them toward each other.

Why is it hard to let people serve you?

Still curious:

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