Today’s article is another installment in Brother P.’s column, “Lessons From the Nursing Home.”

In the branch of The Church of Jesus Christ where I belong, we have a brother who calls his walking cane “Pride.” I am not exactly sure of his reasoning.

Maybe his pride is lost because he uses the cane now? Maybe it keeps him from using the walker, which could be a source of pride? Maybe “pride goeth before a fall.” (I guess I should have asked him.)

In the nursing home, people who require the extra stability of an assistive device — a cane, walker, or crutches — often don’t want to use the device because it might make them look “old.” (Imagine the 92-year-old who told me that!)

Pride of not wanting to look old or feeble, or disabled, or whatever will make a person not use the extra support provided by the assistive device and risk a fall (and possibly an associated fracture, head injury, or worse).

I wonder if the scriptures could be applicable?

Proverbs 29:23 says, “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”

In this context, pride can bring you very low (pun intended). In what areas of your life are you clinging to your pride rather than the extra support (assistive device) that God is trying to give you?

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.