The State Of Being Mortified

mor·ti·fy P Pronunciation Key (môrt-f)
v. mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing, mor·ti·fies
v. tr.
1. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate.

I have a daughter who is two years old and is a total and complete sweetheart. We hear horror stories all the time from our friends of how badly their kids behave out in public; in fact, Debby and I were talking about it today as we were driving to the mall to allow our daughter Noelle to do what she probably loves best right now - ride the carousel (or as she says, "ride the horsey") We have a friend who lives in Colorado whose daughter is a couple of years older than Noelle, and she told us that there were several times when she had to walk out of a store, minus the cart full of groceries/goods that they had, because her daughter was having a complete temper tantrum.

Well, Noelle is two now, and although we haven't had really any problems during the waking hours with her (she isn't a very good sleeper, let's just keep it at that), we have seen a little bit of stubbornness shine through these days with our two-year-old. A lot of times when she disobeys in small things, I think it's because she's just curious as to what will happen if she does something differently than she has done in the past. Anyway, tonight she was watching her Dora video for the umpteenth time since we've bought it - we still don't have regular T.V., but we will soon - and she had her milk to drink. Debby and I were trying to figure out what was wrong with the garbage disposal, and Debby went over to see what Noelle was doing and found Noelle spilling her milk all over our leather chair. Debby told her no, she looked at Debby and started doing it again. This time, Debby took the milk away and sat Noelle on a different chair and told her that she didn't get any more milk tonight and that she needed to watch her movie. Debby then came back over to where I was (unsuccessfully) trying to fix the disposal. All of a sudden, we heard some whimpering, Debby went back over, and Noelle was sitting there like she was supposed to, but these huge tears were falling down her face. And she had such a sad look on her face, and she said "Sawwy, mommy."

It brought tears to my eyes, because here was my daughter, not sad that she had gotten caught with doing something wrong, but actually mortified that she had done something that we told her not to do. She felt bad that she did what was wrong. And it made me think about my relationship with God and if I'm ever truly "mortified" at my sin like Noelle was with her disobedience. I know I used to be. Nowadays I gloss over when I fail and hardly give it a second thought.

How can I change and truly be mortified?

mor·ti·fy P Pronunciation Key (môrt-f)
v. mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing, mor·ti·fies
v. tr.
1. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate.
2. To discipline (one's body and physical appetites) by self-denial or self-inflicted privation.

Romans 8:12-14 (New International Version)

12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.


Perhaps by following definition #2 of what it means to be mortified, definition #1 will naturally take place in my life.