In his book ‘Even As I Am’, Neal A. Maxwell said; “Instructive, indeed, is that circumstance in which the believing mother of James and John unmeekly pressed the Savior in behalf of her sons, hoping they might sit on his right hand and on his left hand, Jesus, who was meek, did not reprove the worshipful mother, but spoke truthfully to her, saying she did not realize what she asked. 49 Her petition resembled so many of our prayers; we do not realize the implications of what we ask. Furthermore, Jesus noted, that this particular decision was His Father’s anyway. Later that day He further taught the ten indignant apostles (presumably James and John as well) about being servant leaders.
If, therefore, we truly want the best for our sons and daughters, we would want for them—not status—but more meekness, mercy, love, patience, and submissiveness. . .
…. Surely Jesus has given us the model of leader-servant in which the pattern evokes, “How can I help?”, not “How can I help myself?” The leader-servant is perfectly epitomized by Jesus and if we are to become like Him, so it must be with us.
Indeed, the very usefulness of our lives depends upon our willingness to serve others: “But Jesus called them unto Him and said, ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you , let him be your servant: Even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”51
Can we expect to become like Him, given our imperfections, unless we can learn to accept and apply needed reproof and correction such as was given in the episodes noted? How essential our capacity to receive correction and reproof is, for “he that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding”(52) Deserved self-esteem depends upon our meekness.
In our personal development, the emery wheel of events can polish us, and the sandpaper of circumstances can smooth us. Too often, when so worked upon, we grow fearful instead of being trusting and submissive. But Peter overcame his fearfulness,and so can we. ~Neal A. Maxwell, ‘Even As I Am’, Deseret Book 1982, p.62-63.
