THE COMPARISON TRAP

     The snags in the blue-stained carpet held my rapt attention, as I tried to find anywhere to rest my eyes, except on the women talking near me.  It was impossible not to hear their private sharing; and I had nowhere else to go but the seat I occupied in the waiting room.

     Although their conversation had begun with weary words of how exhausting their lives were, it soon had led to the details that left me surprised.  The first woman shared her "busyness" which consisted of pedicures, hair appointments and back massages.  The second description was not very different.

     Within moments, it seemed the air became more stale than it had been and the sunlight streaming in the windows dimmed its bright and cheery effect.  What changed?  Only my heart and its response to some strangers description of busyness...you see, I fell feet first into a comparison trap.

     What's a comparison trap?  A device that is used frequently in our lives -- so often, that we may not even notice its stellar effectiveness that leads us away from the things with which we are already blessed.  In fact, there are traps of this nature set around our lives daily and we must navigate them with extreme caution.

     Ease of life?  Children?  Personal dwellings?  Spouses?  Wardrobes?

     These areas and many more can either be examined with a warm heart of thankfulness for what we have, or a cold heart of emptiness that comes from what we don't have.  Our attitude will determine whether we fall into the trap of comparison or step over it with a giant step of gratitude.

     You must know your own weaknesses for the comparison traps in your world and be as vigilant as a soldier on duty.

     How did my blue-stained carpet afternoon end?  I quickly sensed God remind me that my life, too, would have aspects of ease to it also, depending on the person that would overhear one of my conversations.  It was not for me to judge, nor wallow in self-pity; but to stand up and recognize the greatness of EVERY good thing I enjoy...even if it's not over a pedicure.

"Make a careful exploration

of who you are...don't compare

yourself with others." 

Galatians 6:4

   

Rise Up

     There are days . . .  You know, the ones where you ask yourself, "Am I really making any difference?"  "Do my children really hear me?"  "Am I even cut out for this mothering role?"

     I already know the answers to each of those questions, even if you are wobbling in your mind today; they are Yes and Yes and YES!  In fact, somehow God in His wonderful way seems to take days that our feet feel the heaviest on and our throats a little hoarse from frustration and make them some of our most effective.  Is it because of us?  No, it's because God promised us that when we were weak, He would be strong.

     Have you asked Him to be that for you today?
     God, please be strong for me, cause I am feeling weak.

     Words from a quote by Abraham Lincoln jumped off the page for me this week as I read something He said, "God bless my mother; all that I am or ever hope to be I owe to her."

     Do you know that if we are faithful now -- today -- this week -- then someday, the Bible tells us that our children will rise up and call us blessed?  That is the hope of what is to come . . . the reward that lies in the future.  Right now, we are to keep loving those sticky faces and hugging those grimy shoulders and believing God's best about each of our children even in the moments we feel like hope is only a distant glimmer.  Don't lose hope, our children's words may resonate with those of Abraham Lincoln someday IF we do not give up.

"Her children arise and call

her blessed; her husband also,

and he praises her."

Proverbs 31:28