One of my favorite scenes of the classic show, “Friends,” happens to be at the very end of an episode.

Monica (In my opinion the second strongest character… ), has her credit card stolen and heads out with her friends to find the thief. In addition to this happening, she discovers the thief is using her card and name to take tap dancing classes. With terrible dance moves and her friends still by her side, they discover who ”Fake Monica” is. Later on, throughout the episode she befriends and is inspired by the “fake Monica” before her impersonator gets arrested.

My favorite part is the fact that towards the end she decides to go back to the tap dancing class and continue dancing. Her exchange with her teacher looks like this:

Teacher: “You, in the back, you’re doing it wrong!”

Monica: “At least I’m doing it!”

Her.Response.Is.Gold.

I’ve always admired people who have “no shame” or handle life’s supposedly embarrassing moments with wit or laughter. It’s not always easy, and it’s definitely not the common response (Not exactly my first response either), but there really is something special in responding to life’s challenges or maybe even painful moments with a different outlook.

As once said by Lysa Terkeurst,

“Humility and wisdom are a package deal. And often the people who have the most wisdom have experienced the most humility. Or sometimes even the most humiliation. A wisdom like none other can arise from those hard places that being is low.”

Of course, Jesus evidently displays this when he talks about the beatitudes:

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
• for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn,
• for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek,
• for they will inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
• for they will be filled.
• Blessed are the merciful,
• for they will be shown mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart,
• for they will see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers,
• for they will be called children of God.
• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
• for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus knew when the Pharisees were talking negatively about him, knew what was about to happen to him, what the people around him were really thinking; and yet still chose to love and not let anything get in between His father’s mission. He didn’t let anything get in between Him loving, forgiving, or being the ultimate example of what humility looks like.

So, whenever those embarrassing or “being low” moments come, I hope that you can have a new outlook on them. Be resilient, keep going, choose to respond with love or wit or laughter; and remember “at least you’re doing it!”

Ligia Forbes