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As I looked at the list of topics for my next set of writing projects, “Comparison” jumped out as the easiest assignment. After all, I had just returned from a quick trip to a neighboring country where I was impressed with how much cleaner and quieter the city streets were, how the drivers all obeyed the traffic laws, and the malls and grocery stores looked like something you would find in the United States.
“I’m so glad,” I caught myself thinking, “that when our church from Ohio came to visit recently, they saw us working in a still-developing country and not a place that looks just like home.”
And that was going to be the basis of this devotional, until I heard myself scolding my boys–no, I was actually YELLING at them, not just scolding!
“Enough with the computer games! I want to see you both on the couch reading your book report books!”
While they did have a book report due, my yelling was provoked by a picture-perfect post I’d seen on Facebook from a college friend who is a global worker on another continent. In the picture, her cute children were all quietly reading, and she was thrilled to see them spend so much time that way, not only for school assignments, but also just for fun.
I’m ashamed to admit it, but I reacted in jealousy. I wanted MY kids to be the ones who loved reading. I wanted that to be MY Facebook post. So I yelled at my boys, made them mad, and made myself feel terribly guilty in the process!
I wish I had taken the time to follow Paul’s advice to the Galatians by paying closer attention to my own work with my boys. All I really need to do is make sure that I am teaching them to the best of my ability and in accordance with their abilities. I need to avoid the temptation to compare them to my friend’s kids or to compare the “success” of my homeschooling to hers.
Next time I see one of those picture-perfect Facebook posts, this will be my goal.
It’s so easy to fall into the comparison trap, even though we know it’s wrong. In which areas of your life or ministry do you find it easiest to compare yourself to others? What is one thing you can do today to put an end to the comparisons? Some examples of ways we compare ourselves to others are: Relationships (with spouse, family, or friends); “Success” (in ministry, homeschooling, or job); Physical characteristics or talents.
As is clear through the story, homeschooling is my biggest comparison trap. I taught “real school” for almost a decade and never worried a bit about how it was going. But with my own kids, I often find myself comparing them and their accomplishments (or lack thereof) to other people’s kids. I hate this! I try to remember to battle this on a regular basis by first thanking the Lord for giving me the privilege of teaching my own children and then asking (most of the time BEGGING) for the wisdom he promises to give us when we ask. I remind myself of the specific talents and abilities of each child, and I LOG OUT of Facebook!