LEARNING AN IMPORTANT LESSON

After several years in the circuit work, we were invited in 1978 to serve at Canada Bethel. Not long after, I learned a painful but important lesson. I was assigned to give a one-and-a-half hour talk in French at a special meeting in Montreal. Sadly, my talk did not hold the audience’s attention, and a brother from the Service Department offered me counsel about it. Frankly, I should have realized then, as I have since, that I am not the most gifted speaker. But I did not take the counsel very well. Our personalities seemed to clash. I felt that he was overly critical​—he did not offer any commendation. I made the mistake of judging the counsel based on the way it was given and the way I perceived the person who was giving it.

A few days later, a member of the Branch Committee spoke to me about the matter. I admitted that I had not responded well to the counsel and expressed regret. Next I spoke to the brother who had counseled me. He graciously accepted my apology. That experience became an object lesson in humility that I will never forget. (Prov. 16:18) I have prayed to Jehovah many times about this, and I am determined never again to view counsel negatively.