Dying to Self

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught
And you don’t sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight
But your heart is happy being counted worthy to suffer for Christ
Then that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed
And your advice disregarded or your opinions ridiculed
And you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or defend yourself
But take it in patient endurance and loving silence
That is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any raiment, any climate,
Any society, even solitude, any interruption, as the will of God
That, my brother, is dying to sell.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, or irregularity
Any unpunctuality; when you can stand face to face
With waste and folly and extravagance and spiritual insensitivity
And endure it as Jesus endured it
That, my sister, is dying to self.

When you no longer care to hear yourself in conversation
To record you own good works or itch after commendation
When you can truly love to be unknown
That is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less
stature than yourself
And can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly
Finding no rebellion or resentment rising within your heart
That truly is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met
And you can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy
While your own needs are far greater
That indeed is dying to self.