Which one do you like best?
Which item is larger, which is smaller?
Who has blue eyes, who has brown?
How many pieces of candy did you get?
It goes on and on and on. As we move into adulthood, we start comparing education, jobs, houses, cars, and prices at the grocery store. There are even times when comparisons are based on assumptions that just aren't true. The Professor is a highly educated man having a college degree as well as two graduate degrees from really good schools. I, on the other hand, chose not to go to college after high school. I went to a trade school and became a secretary. I loved being a secretary. I love to type!
It is often assumed that I have a similar educational background as The Professor. Prior to marriage to The Professor, one person was in great error in making this assumption. In the middle of a lengthy one-on-one conversation, she actually told me that it was impossible for her to carry on a conversation with someone who did not have a college degree. Oh the ignorance! Having a piece of paper stating a college degree does not make one smart, and it definitely does not give one wisdom!
When you think about it, aren't all of our comparisons just as crazy? Not only do we compare our own physical appearance from what size we are to how many wrinkles and gray hairs we have, but we also compare our children.
My child is the best baseball player, best dancer, or the champion of the spelling bee! From the time the child enters school, his intellect is compared with the other kids in his class via daily grades as well as other kids across the country on national tests.
What if the world stopped comparing? What if it no longer mattered who has the best job or if your child is the best at this or that? What if everyone could just be the person God created him or her to be?
In more recent years, I have been told by some that I "should" be doing this or that. I have even had some look down on me when I haven't done what they deemed I should be doing.
Last night I had the privilege of attending the LifeLine Pregnancy Center's annual banquet. It was such a blessing. The Professor was the keynote speaker. It was such an honor to be there in support of him as he shared his heart on the sanctity of life. We are 100% PRO-LIFE!
The Professor pointed out how through the life of the prophet Jeremiah* we can clearly see that each life is ordained by God prior to coming into existence - every life, not just certain ones here and there. Not only is every life ordained, but every life is created for a specific purpose! Can you let that sink in for a few minutes?
Basically, stop the comparing. God created YOU to be YOU! You are intended to be YOU to serve God in the way He has purposed. He just wants YOU to shine in the way he created YOU to shine. I can tell you, he did not create me to sing! There are many times throughout my life that I have "wished" that I could be like someone else in her talent. It is very freeing when you can come to grips with who God created YOU to be.
This goes for our kids too. It is so unfair to compare them to other kids even if your kid comes out on top in the comparison. God did not create Puppy to be a gymnast nor Little Man to play football. He did give them talents in other areas that are not necessarily the "norm" in each of their respective age groups. When they were younger there was a lot of pressure to put each of them into standard activities. Yes, we tried numerous to no avail. Not only have I received freedom in just being me, there has also been great freedom in allowing my kids to pursue their own interests even when it falls outside the realm of what is the "norm".
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11May you find JOY in being YOU!
Tami
*Please see Jeremiah 1 for the story of Jeremiah's genesis.
