True Humility is marked with a Servant Attitude

There was only one brand of coffee in our home—Community Dark Roast. Community Coffee is a local brand founded by Cap Saurage. Cap owned a country store and wanted to share his coffee with his neighbors. He had a secret blend and word spread quickly that it was the best coffee around. He named his coffee “Community Coffee’ to honor his friends and neighbors. Cap- was a humble man who wanted to share what he had with others. Cap thought more of others and less of himself.

In my hometown, there was an elderly man who lived alone with his afflicted son Burl. Burl sold peanuts out of a homemade cart. They lived quietly, humbly and did not seek to burden anyone. Every Sunday men from all walks of life attended weekly Bible study to hear a self-educated, elderly man explain deep truths of the Bible coupled with his personal wisdom. Mr. Henry had something to share with others but most of all he shared the key of humility to a community. People will interrupt their busy lives and rearrange their schedules to learn about the truth of humility. The key of humility is not something you teach. Humility is something you live. Henry Watts thought more of others and little about himself. He lived humility. You could easily see it.

Someone said ‘humility is giving God and others the credit for your success”. Yet more often, I have heard others proclaim, “I pulled myself up by my own bootstraps”. That is just another way of saying I did it by myself and I did it my way. There is little truth in those statements. 

Someone helped each of us to put on our first pair of boots, pull them up and lace them. Boots need to fit and there is a proper boot for the occasion.   There are boots for formal occasions, boots for work, boots for combat, boots to protect you from the venomous evil of creatures, and boots to protect from the elements of the world. The truth is we learned to wear boots because someone taught us about selecting the appropriate boots and proper fit. Humility like boots is something you wear. It is a part of you. A leader is not completely dressed unless you are clothed in humility and always thinking about others first.

Mama Maggie Gobran was introduced at the 2011 Global Leadership Summit. The very first quality you notice about her is humility.  

Mama Maggie, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and former professor lived a very affluent lifestyle and was sheltered from poverty and the misfortunate. In 1989, this humble woman gave it all up to become a consecrated servant to those who live in Cairo’s slums. This world leader daily lives her humility.  Her unique life demonstrates servant leadership through humility. It is the key that opens the door to life for others. Humble leadership prefers to improve the quality of life for those you lead.

Leaders who are marked by true humility strive to improve the lives of others while seeking no recognition for their own achievements.  

In my next blog, I will tell you about the greatest compliment I ever received. I am going to get another cup of that wonderful Community Coffee!