(a 3 min read) To those of you that do not know, my 4th granddaughter Margaret Maxine Andria, which will go by Margot arrived on July 31^st 🙂 Thank you God for a healthy baby and healthy mom. Dad does not get much recognition during such events, but I learnt something quite fantastical from Jeff when we visited them Thursday evening at the hospital.

Kristi opted to have a natural birth. No epidural, no nothing. I bow down for her choice. To put it simply, Kristi said “it was hard”. Kristi, as she is telling us about the birth, added that the midwife offered Jeff to join her in delivering Margot. Jeff, apparently, took her up on that offer. Again, I stand in awe for his choice. Kristi went into detail of his involvement and his emotions, as well as hers, during that time. Which we loved to hear. We were fortunate to arrive at their room first. Butch and Judy arrived soon after, and we were fortunate for the 2nd time to hear the story of the birth and Jeff’s contribution as Kristi detailed them.

Judy looked at Jeff, when Kristi recounted his involvement, and said, “it is miraculous isn’t it?” Jeff’s response with a strong and tough tone was, “that’s an accurate description.” That’s all that Jeff said about his own experience.

Kristi announced the arrival of Margot, she is so adorable by the way 🙂 on social media late last night, two days later. All the grandparents, myself included, could not wait as we were itching to add our bit of the delivery of Margot to the world. ITCHING I tell you. Did she post it yet? Did she post it yet?

Why were we chomping at the bit?

Simply put; Bragging Rights…………..

Now, let me ask you, who’s got REAL Bragging Rights!?   Jeff? Not just dad, but dad that delivered his daughter Margot?  Or us ………. the grandparents!?

Jeff never once said, “hey, let me tell you what I did….”  Or   “Yo yo, look at me right here….”

Although if he did we’d be standing in awe listening, and be so very proud of the details he’s recalling.

You can say, “He’s not the bragging type!”

I say, “That my friend is an act of Humility!”

What’s that got to do with Humility?? You may wonder!

I am not putting words in Jeff’s mouth, but I imagine if I asked him why he did not recount the story, his response would be something like this; “I did not do it to be able to tell about it. I did it to enjoy the opportunity of birthing my own daughter. I was blessed with this opportunity. This miraculous moment in time that I never thought I’d ever experience. This is not about me! It is about Margot. And that’s where it will stay, for me and for Margot.”

The HUMILITY is in knowing full well the “shining light” moment that you have every right to have, yet you CHOOSE not to have that spot light……… You CHOOSE to GIVE IT UP.

You cannot give what you do not have. Choosing to GIVE IT UP is an act of humility.

We society seem to have defined HUMILITY as; if I am not pompous, arrogant, snobbish or portentous then I am humble.

It is the adding of the NOT and the NOT and the NOT, therefore I am………… syndrome.

I think it is time to look at it from the opposite direction. Create a paradigm shift;
If I am not humble, then I am pompous, arrogant, snobbish and portentous.

Which means I actually have to find things to do that show to MYSELF; “that’s a HUMBLE ACT.”

But how do you define humble??

Thank you Jeff for giving me an example to use as the beginning of trying to get a finger on how to define HUMBLE 🙂  And thank you Kristi for who you are. I love you.

My Lord and my Creator, thank You for Margot and thank You for the parents that she has. i am in awe for the signs and miracles that You give us to remind us of WHO YOU ARE. i bow down in thanks my God and my Maker. May me do things for the sake of doing them, period.  i love You. Thank You. Amen.