I had every intention of posting a patriotic DIY; but my heart has been heavy with some thoughts.
Comparison.
I see it creeping through the tiniest cracks in our lives.
Prying it’s ugly way through our “smart” phones, into daily conversations, and throughout our everyday experiences.
In short, comparison is a judgmental curse.
It causes feelings of inadequacy and jealousy while robbing optimism, gratitude, and ambition.
And yet we all do it.
She runs at 5 am every morning; I’m still in my pj’s. Her photos could be on a billboard; mine will never look like that. They went to Paris; we haven’t gone anywhere in years. Did you hear? Her garden is growing juicy tomatoes; and ours is dead (true story).
Comparison comes from counting someone else’s blessings instead of our own.
When we measure our weaknesses alongside someone else’s strengths, we’ll always fall short.
We buy the lie, ‘The grass is greener in their yard. Ours will never get watered enough to be THAT green.’
In a world that is swimming with judgement and ridicule, it’s easy to get caught up in the wave that washes us out to sea.
We need to recognize we’re all on a similar journey to learn, grow, and progress.
Yes, each of our boats are uniquely different – painted different colors, all sailing in different directions and at different rates. But they’re supposed to.
The challenge is to acknowledge our own personal strengths (no matter how small they may be) and value our own personal journey of progression. When the urge comes to compare against others, let us celebrate their strengths and accomplishments. To be genuinely happy for them – and in turn, learn from their successes.
The more we allow love to fill our hearts and minds the easier it is to be kind to ourselves and others.
There’s enough wind to go around to fill all of our sails.
I needed to be reminded of this. THANK YOU! 🙂
Beautiful. I needed that this morning!
I needed to hear this! Thank you for the reminder, and especially the good example of putting others first. Thank you.
Ginny
Love this! Thanks for the encouragement.
Love this, Missy. A beautiful reminder.
I love this! Such a good reminder for today. Thank you.
I needed this today, thank you.
Wow….what impeccable timing. This is exactly what I needed to read this morning. Thank you so much for the reminder to not lose sight of what truly is important in life.
Thank you for this much needed reminder! It’s a very tough time for my husband & I financially right now, and it’s hard to have so many thing we want to do (like start a family!) and not the means to fulfill them. I know that if I keep my focus on gratitude for what we do have, the other things will fall in place 🙂 Thank you!
I kept nodding… beautifully written…. Thank you!
This was so beautifully written. 🙂
Thank you for that. It is so easy to fall into the trap of wanting what you don’t have. I find myself falling into the trap often living in Orange County, California; where there is more pressure to be perfect and “keep up with the Jones”. Some times it is important to step back and count all of the many blessings you already have, instead of worrying about the things you think you need.
You are awesome. 🙂
Thank you for this – it was completely needed and hit at just the right time. ox
so true! nice post
Lovely. May I share on my Facebook page?
Awesome …
Great post!! It happens to all of us, and I’m very guilty of it.
This message couldn’t have come at a better time for me.
Thank you.
Such a sweet inspirational lady 🙂 Glad to know such a beautiful person!
This is exactly what i needed to hear today. My mind has been bursting with comparisons lately while studying for my nursing boards and not feeling up to par. THANK YOU!
This was very inspiring and at times i try to be just like you! your a great mother and your blog inspires me to be a great mom everyday, so thank you! 🙂
“Comparison comes from counting someone else’s blessings instead of our own.
When we measure our weaknesses alongside someone else’s strengths, we’ll always fall short.”
So true. And it causes division while distracting from love: not at all what God intended or Jesus exampled. by contrast He humbled Himself (see Phil. 2:1-11).
Thanks for the post!
Thank you for this beautiful reminder. I love the comparison to boats and the beautiful picture. I want to print it and hang it!
Amen, sister! You hit the nail on the head here. I couldn’t agree more. There are so many ways to live a life, and so many different speeds and directions to travel and grow.
Beautifully put! Thanks for sharing.
I feel this creeping in, especially when it comes to home furnishings. We haven’t decorated our home (a combination of lack of funds and lack of vision) so when I visit other people’s homes, I immediately start to compare.
And when you interview millionaires in their sprawling homes and photograph their yards…the comparison is absurd.
Thank you for reminding me, again, that comparing my life with someone else’s is ridiculous. I struggle with this on an almost daily basis. And I need to focus on the NUMEROUS blessings in my own life!
<3
Thanks for the reminder! At least we know we all do it!
Always comparing can really bring someone down, I feel like I have been doing too much of that lately. So glad you shared this, it brightened my Friday.
I so needed this reminder today. Thank you!
I have so much trouble with this. Competitive in nature, it’s so difficult for me not to compare. But I completely agree with you. It’s just a matter of putting this lesson into practice! Thank you for the reminder!
So perfectly put. Timely as we raise our fine seventeen year old son.
Wow! Very true & encouraging.
Thank you so much for this . I have to share this with my friends & sisters 🙂
So huge between moms. You’re speaking the truth girly! Love your site!
Thank you for this, Missy. I had thoughts like this that tried to creep into my mind today. Slowly I’m learning to not let them… makes life a lot happier!
I so needed this today! Thank you so much for writing it.
So true and so easy to fall into the trap. I have to always remind myself that no one is perfect and we are all doing the best we can. Thank you for the reminder!
So so beautifully written and a great reminder! Thanks, Missy! Xoxo
Such a great reminder, thank you for this!!! I have a long list of favorite blogs, but yours is my ultimate favorite. You have a gift for writing in a humble, down to earth tone. 🙂