The Green-Eyed MOMster
Hello Friends,
I pray that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week with close family and friends. I LOVE the holidays and can say that my family and I had a good week away from work, spending time with family, and enjoying our hometown. We were so happy to go to our home church and hear a particularly convicting sermon on "PRIDE". It was especially interesting that this was the topic of the sermon as I had been pondering over an issue I've been struggling with for the past couple of weeks.
You see a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to pride is "comparison". Im tempted to insert a "Yoda-like" statement right here. It would go something like this....
"Pride leads to comparison, comparison leads to envy, envy leads to ungratefulness......
.....ungratefulness leads to the dark side." Ok, ok I'm done. But you get the picture.
I've been struggling alot with comparison and subsequent envy lately. I think all of us moms do at some point or another. I mean....I Know Im blessed! I have a wonderful husband, healthy children, and a great job! But sometimes, I see the mom with one child, and I envy her ability to just "pick up and go". I can't do that anymore. I need to plan at least a week out in advance. I miss a lot of spontaneous mommy meetups. There goes the mom who looks all nice and put together or has nice social media pictures. I come alive if I just manage to get a shower. Sometimes I envy my husband. This is probably not the truth (it's probably the Enemy really), but it seems as though fathers have different pressures to me. I think to myself that he couldn't possibly feel the same amount of pressure I feel in parenting our children. I compare my perceived future to his. Sometimes, I feel like I'm particularly tied to my children while the world is his oyster. Sometimes I just envy his ability to fall asleep anywhere and anytime...without a care in the world or thought of what the children may be doing! LOL!
When I have these thoughts in my head I'm not being very grateful for the blessings God has given me. In this season of thanksgiving, I've committed myself to changing my heart and mind to that which is filled with gratefulness for God's work in my life. I don't want to be envious of others.
A heart filled with envy isn't a heart filled with God's love. Eyes that only compare, only see the negatives in life....not the blessings right in front of them.
The Apostle Paul said...
"...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
~Philippians 4:11
Paul is saying that no matter what his state or environment is, he is content with what God has provided him. We mommies should be content as well. Beware: Comparison can be sinful.
If you struggle with comparing yourself to others or have a hard time dealing with envy remember this scripture:
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. "
~ James 3:16
Scary sounding, right? Well, this is serious stuff. We mommies need to protect our inner spirit lady from the Enemy, who delights in making mommies feel unhappy and discontent. A confused unhappy mommy can't do very much in raising God-fearing children can she? You see my point here?
Remember you are so blessed and have no need to want for what another has. After all, your perceptions could be totally off (I'm looking at you social media). Commit to seeing the blessings in your life, and focus on such things as these. Give thanks to the Father for everything He is doing in your life. Remember the classic scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Happy Season of Thanksgiving Everyone!
