Wow, that certainly puts it into perspective for me - thank you.
Had Jesus not called her a dog it wouldn't have demonstrated so perfectly her humble heart as you say.
I think that this is something that, specifically in this modern day, where the world promotes the self above all else, is something that we really need to keep close to our hearts. Especially when things are not going our way, or we cannot understand why we have to go through some of the difficulties of life. So often we end up trying to do it on our own without God, we close our hearts to His voice because we want what we want and in our time and not Gods. But we are told in Proverbs 3: 5-6 to
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.To do this it truly requires a humble heart and great faith, as the Canaanite woman demonstrated in Matthew 15:27. We are also promised in the word that we will be blessed when we humble ourselves:
Proverbs 22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.
Psalm 147:6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
And the woman was blessed! Her daughter was healed! If we keep our eyes on Jesus and not on what we can see happening around us, He will lift us up, He will protect and provide for us, He will heal us, He will guide us, He will never let us down. He loves us that much!
Arrayah