Something to Boast About

Boast = to speak of with excessive pride
Boasting is about sharing what gives you pride, or that which makes you proud of it. Do you have anything to boast about?

The economy, wars, and uncertainty of our times have motivated many people to change what they boast in. Commentators say that the holidays this year will focus more on family and people than in many years. We have trusted in money, stocks, jobs, positions, real estate, and the government - and been burned. So now, having learned the error of our ways, we’ve decided to go back to finding pride in ourselves and those around us. The acquired talents, earned education, and natural abilities that we possess will now be our focus. We will pay more attention to ourselves and each other, marveling in what everyone can do. Collectively, we start to think, “Oh, how silly that was to think that money would make me happy. Prestige wasn’t working out too well either. Well, fine. I’ve got myself - and I’m great, and I have those who care about me. Enjoying each other is what makes life worthwhile.” How sweet. Kinda nervous-thud-in-the-pit-of-my-stomach sweet.

Boasting in material wealth was a problem. Ok. Good to know. But we have to be careful about learning the actual lesson these difficult economic times are teaching us.

People are precious and valuable. They should get our love, care and attention. But could they become a source of pride? And if so, is anything wrong with that? We can boast of our families of origin, spouses, children, grandchildren, co-workers and friends. A little of this is certainly good and is encouraging. But what happens when our lives become about the prestige of a spouse’s position - and then it is lost. Or the potential success of our children - who end up either doing little with their lives or not finding the time to visit or call. What about the powerful or well-known friends who then forget us - or even the kind ones with whom we just lose touch? Is that what we are left with from our boasting? People are important, but have the potential to fall away faster than the economy.

What about ourselves? There, we have more control, no big surprises. We have long known (at least in theory) that pride in ourselves is a bad idea. We know that literally boasting about ourselves is rude. But a new kind of boasting is emerging. It is boasting without a word. It is building yourself up to be beautiful and organized, informed and worldly, contemplative and artistic, all in your own strength. So people look at you and see … you - accomplished, cool-headed and prepared for success. This one is easy to trap at least me. The boasting is spoken through volumes of actions in my life. I boast in wanting others to think I’m doing all the right things to make me happy. I boast in wanting them to see how well I can do for myself. And what proud boasting (internally) when I don’t want people over because the house isn’t clean and smelling of homemade bread? Blek!

So take more time for yourself, your friends and family, enjoy them. But boast in what is perfect and unchangable, the only unwavering existence. Boast not in the world or the people in it, but boast - oh, yell it out and get all prideful - boast in the Lord.

“Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in the LORD our God.” Psalms 20:7