New Insight

New Insight

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Romans 12:3

That evening after the day’s sessions when Diane tried to talk to Perfect about the scene, she was met with bewilderment. Perfect didn’t understand why “fans,” as she called the women in her audiences, were always wanting to hug her. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she let her young assistant know the discussion was over.

As Diane continued to ponder the insensitivity her boss had displayed, she wished two things: (1) that Mrs. Perfect hadn’t worried about an adoring “fan” mussing her hair or smudging her makeup, and (2) that the admiring woman hadn’t expected so much from just another human being.

Diane was learning the hard way that people, no matter what their position, are just people. And in her close work with Perfect, Diane had also learned that whenever she set her expectations of another person too high, sooner or later, she was bound to be disappointed. And judging from the way she had let her own devotional life slide lately, she knew she was heading toward discouragement, which could quickly propel her into disheartenment. She suddenly understood the accounts she had heard of other workers in Christian ministry who left not only their public ministry but even the church.

Now she had a decision to make: She could resign her position as assistant to Mrs. Perfect. Or she could take a deep breath and continue in her role but without the gushy adoration. —SANDRA

Lord, Diane did the right thing by trying to talk to her employer about this situation. I probably either would have ignored it or developed an “attitude.” Help me to tackle the issues that need tackling, but always in your right time and only after I’ve prayed.

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

—NORMAN VINCENT PEALE (1898–1993), AMERICAN PREACHER AND AUTHOR