I am not a pastor nor am I a bible teacher but I want to share my own understanding of the above verse.

 

I personally am guilty of being a fool. I'm a highly opinionated person and it's very important that I voice out my reasons and views to the person infront of me for fear of being misunderstood and 
misjudged of knowing nothing. Understanding is what I lack because I value that people should understand me first before I understand them.

 

The above verse teaches us the principle of humility. Humility, in the sense that we learn to listen to others before ourselves. We place ourselves in other's shoes to fit into their situation and broaden our perspective about life and our differences. 

 

I'd like to share an experience related to today's biblical verse.

 

Last year, I had my heartbroken by someone I dearly love. Love not loved because until now I still feel the same way. We missed the communication part or rather we failed the "understanding" aspect of our relationship. Both of us were dealing with personal conflicts and issues that instead of helping each other, I chose to help myself and not him. I verbalized my hurt feelings towards our long distance relationship and even bragged about it again and again. He had the voice to share but I chose not to listen because I was succumbed to protecting and satisfying myself. I didn't listen. I didn't want to understand where he was coming from. In the end, we left each other's arms. 

 

Til today, I can remember this past. How I closed my doors to opening my heart to understanding. It was all about me sharing my feelings and wanting him to satisfy me. I was asking for understanding yet I did not fill in my part of understanding him. Yet I have forgiven myself and hopefully he had totally forgiven me. My part to play now is not to repeat the same mistake again but rather practising what I learned from it.