How do I reply to people calling me a saint?

[lifeinthespirit]

I am not a saint. However, I hear that word applied to me several times a week. Whether it be a comment for an act, or out of the people’s aspiration, I guess. I want to glorify God and God only. However, folks see otherwise. I just love to serve with my whole heart. It is he who works in me and not myself! So does anyone have some good reply? The best I have come up with is “That job isn’t up for me to decide, and when I would find such name for myself, by then I would be gone home and working overtime!” I’m lost for words, please share, and please leave no comment for me to attain any glory. But sometimes people say I “downgrade” myself and don’t take credit.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

My favorite comeback of a saint-in-the-making to being called a saint while still alive was that of the American Catholic social activist, Dorothy Day, who said, “Don’t call me a saint. I don’t want to be dismissed so easily.” I can only speculate, but I think Day was pointing out that calling someone a saint for acts of Christian charity sometimes lets others “off the hook.” In other words, by doing this people are, in effect, saying, “You must be a saint to have done that! But I’m not a saint, just an ordinary person, so I’ll leave it up to you to do it.”