Oh Please, not the Golden Girl!

The other afternoon one of my younger sisters and I were having a bit of a heated discussion over the topic of being critical about people. It is a subject I have been trying to overcome in my own life...I used to tend toward being a bit prejudiced against people from first impressions or hearsay...rather a Lizzy Bennet in some ways. That is still my natural impulse, but over the last year or two I have striven to form my opinions slowly and be loving toward everyone, regardless of their personalities. And so this sister and I were in the midst of an altercation... ;)
"Why must you be so hateful about them? You don't even try to like them," I said, much exasperated.
This younger sister turned about in her seat (we were in the car) and said, "Your problem, Rachel, is that you're too much like Jane Bennet--always ready to like everyone."

I had to laugh...had I come so far in a few months that my sisters now liken me to sweet Jane Bennet? Then the answer dawned on me...Jesus has brought me far in this area of my nature, but the sinful impulse to be prejudiced is still there...He has just taught me to kick that impulse in the tail and instead to look upon my acquaintance in a charitable light. My next thought was this: But do my sisters and family see that struggle? It's nice to be squelching the impulses with such thoroughness that everyone thinks it comes naturally. But sometimes I wish my sisters, especially, could see the tendencies I strive against. The same younger sister (who happens to be the most outspoken) has told me a million times if she has once:

"Well, Rachel, you're just the golden girl."

Whenever she says that, I get a clammy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I hate it. I never asked to be the golden girl, and I don't like it that that particular sister believes I am the golden girl. She only sees the fruit of my walk with the Lord...I rejoice, in some ways, that it is so evident, for I feel Him working in my life and it is relieving to know some of that is showing through. But I had never thought before that perhaps that very fruit could be a stumbling block for my younger sisters. I know the younger girls (and there are five of them) all think I have this whole "perfect daughter" thing down pat. Sarah, more than the others, knows I don't, for she and I have Discussions late at night, but I'm sure she still wonders. ;) They think that just because I have learned self-control in many areas and don't often show my struggle on the outside, that I have no struggle. Thankfully, I can say with confidence that I don't behave like the classic teacher's pet. I don't try to woo and win over all the adults and be sickly sweet to everyone else. But my inward struggles...my sin, my doubts and fears, seldom show outwardly, and I guess my younger siblings figure they aren't there. I'm sure they think I have somehow reached a height of goodness, or at least success, that is legendary enough to side-line me with Jane Bennet.

And so I am left with a dilemma that I am putting prayer into, and I beg your advice as well...what to do? I don't want to be so worried about what they think that I shall take a backwards step and begin letting my struggles show outwardly. That would be silly. I know that whatever meek and quiet spirit the Lord has fashioned into my character (through a series of none-too-comfortable growing pains) is a good example to my younger sisters. I am so thankful that they see fruit from my relationship with Christ. After all, Jane Bennet isn't the worst character to be likened to. :P
But I never have, and never do want to be put on a pedestal as an example of the quintessential daughter...a pinnacle of golden sister-hood I never leave but instead deign to sprinkle a little of my fairy-dust on the younger girls and smile benignly from my heady heights.
No, for that is not the stuff true righteousness is made of. True righteousness recognizes the Giver of goodness. True righteousness only wants the glory to go to Him. True righteousness does not look down its nose at the sin of others, but strives to bring them to the feet of the King who makes all crooked sticks straight. The idea is to be so lost in Christ that an aura of His joy and love and peace surrounds you. Not to be so lost in self-satisfaction that we sit under stadium lights and let our siblings buy tickets to come and speak with us, that we may endow them with a little of our wisdom.

So my question, dear sisters, is this: How to show my sisters that I am not the golden girl? That I have to same ugly sin as any of them, and that it is not easy for me to behave as I do?