By Kayla Hamlin
“Forget your pride (what have you to be proud of?) and your anger (who has done you wrong?) and accept the mercy of these good Kings.” (Lewis, The Horse and His Boy)
“Pride and joy” is a common American phrase, but more often than not, pride is accompanied by anger and violence, rather than joy. Prince Rabadash (to whom the above quote was directed after his failed ambush) was prideful, and that would not allow him to accept the mercy of the Kings. This made him angry, violent, and unhappy.
Rabadash’s prideful condition reminds me of Luke 15, the parable of the two sons. The older son came home to a party being thrown for his brother, but he was livid and refused to enter. Soon after, his dad came to greet him. He said “this son of yours (not my brother) has squandered your wealth. I have never disobeyed you, why have you never given me a goat to celebrate with my friends.”
His dad replied “my son, you have been with me my whole life, all that I have is yours” (inspired by the prodigy ). The older son had worked his whole life, and he was proud of that. He didn’t understand that the father isn’t about work, He is about hearts. The young son’s heart had gone and returned, but the older son’s heart was never really there. The Father was celebrating his young son’s returned heart, but the older son’s pride wouldn’t let him celebrate with or understand the Father. All his pride did was make him angry at the sight of other people’s joy. I imagine the Father used those same words as he urged his son’s heart to return home. “Forget your pride (what have you to be proud of?) and your anger (who has done you wrong?) and accept the mercy of the good King.”
Allow me to compare this story with one in Luke 7. Jesus was having dinner at a Pharisees’ house. A woman walked in. She had nothing to be proud of, and she knew it. She rushed to Jesus and cried in thankfulness, she wet his feet with her tears, she dried them with her hair, and she anointed them with oil. Jesus said “your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you, go in peace.”
Both characters had nothing to be proud of, (our best days are like filthy rags to God) both were offered a mercy they didn’t deserve. One refused to take part, choosing a life of pride and anger. Contrarily, the other praised God for His gift.
She walked away joyful, he walked away angry.
She walked away peaceful, he walked away discontent.
She walked away satisfied, he walked away dissatisfied.
We could live in pride, but what do we have to be proud of?
We could live in anger, but who has wronged us that God has not forgiven?
Or We could accept the King’s mercy, joy, and peace.
*Psalm 73, Galatians 5:19-23, Psalm 43:4, Psalm 42:5
Kayla is a high school junior who began following Christ nine years ago, and discovering Him for herself in middle school. She started
her ministry journey as a dance teacher at the age of 14. Since then her love for children’s ministry has grown as she works with the Lord, readying young hearts for his kingdom’s come. Kayla wants to attend college in the future to study education and world languages. She thoroughly enjoys fine arts, watching musicals, spending time with family and cherry pie.
Photograph taken by Miguel Á. Padriñán