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Kindness vs. Pride May 07, 2004   I received a bicycle for my birthday in March. Since then, I’ve become quite the biker and have been exploring new parts of the city near my home. About 10 minutes into a recent ride, I was heading up a hill when my chain came off my bike. I didn’t think much about it because it had happened before. While I was putting my chain back on, a man in a car stopped to tell me it was easier to put the chain on at the front sprocket instead of the back one. I said a quick “thanks” and he was on his way. I didn’t really want his help – I was doing just fine on my own. Then a little boy came by and said something to me that I didn’t quite understand. I understood the word wheel and I just kept tinkering with my chain and said, “it’s alright”. I thought I had everything under control. The boy went over to an older man who was riding a bike and repeated what I had said to him. They proceeded to go behind me and seemed to be looking for something. I just kept tinkering with my chain, but with greater difficulty, trying to figure out why there was so much slack. I was still investigating my problem when the little boy appeared by my side again. This time he was holding out his hand. In his hand was a part that fell off my bike!!! I had been messing with my chain that long and hadn’t even noticed! I thanked him and proceeded to try to place the part that fell off back on the bike where it belonged. When I was doing so, I noticed a screw that went to the part under my bike. It was bent. There was no way I was going to fix the bike right then. By this time, the older man pulled up in front of me and asked if I had the screw. I did and I showed it to him. I told him that I lived close and would walk my bike home. I thanked them both again, this time with genuine thanksgiving, as they went on their way. Now, why am I telling you this? Well, I realized that I was prideful. I had too much pride to accept the help that showed up. It was not until I was embarrassed into accepting the help that I actually did. Since that incident, I’ve been thinking a lot about serving and being served. What if those I was serving were as prideful as me and wouldn’t accept my help!!! I realized that I not only have the job to serve, but I must also allow myself to be served. The older man and boy did not give up. I’m thankful that they didn’t! They served me – even when I was unwilling to accept it. It was a humbling lesson to learn, but I’m glad I learned it. Sandi Todd