Greener Grass or is it Whiter Snow?

Envy. "The grass is always greener on the other side. Or lately one would ask if the snow is whiter in the neighbors yard?" While working through my bible study this week, I came across a great comment on the topic of envy. "But the darker hue you perceive is either an illusion or the result of a lot of hard work." The study I am working with is 'Living In Grace' by Carol Lewis.

Envy or comparison. I can speak for myself to say that I easily fall into the trap! The book goes onto share that 'nothing is exactly the way it appears at first glance, including people's seemingly easier lives. We have no way to know what another person is dealing with emotionally, mentally, physical, or spiritually.' Isn't that true? We are always quick to see only the 'outside'.

In Proverbs 14:30, Solomon shares that envy 'rots the bone'.

The former nurse in me, drove me to look up Osteoporosis, a common occurrence among women as I as I believe the comparison/envy game can be as well. This is want I found.

The strength of your bones depends on their size and density. Bone density depends on the amount of calcium, phosphorus and other minerals bones contain. When your bones contain fewer minerals than normal, they're less strong and eventually lose their internal supporting structure. Scientists have yet to learn all the reasons why a process of bone remodeling occurs. The process involves how the bone is made. Bones are continuously changing - new bone is made and old bone is broken down - a process called remodeling, or bone turnover.

In order to avoid my bones from rotting, I must take care of them by filling my body with good nutrition and getting proper exercise. If I don't, then my bones begin to lose their internal supporting structure. If envy and comparison are a part of my thinking and life, I begin to slowly rot away inside, dieing to myself.

If I feed by heart, soul, and mind with God's word and grow in my relationship with Him daily then I can ward off feelings of envy and self doubt and make myself NEW in Christ.

The old self is dead and made NEW in Christ! Just like the old bone is broken down and the new bone is made. Did you know that Osteoporosis CAN be reversed!

So when you catch yourself 'wishing things were this way or that way', remember God loves you and provides for you exactly what you need!

It is impossible to be content when our eyes are focused on ourselves and our selfish desires. But when we focus on Christ, this world and everything in it fades away. We brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out, not even our earthly bodies.

We know that we are wonderfully and fearfully made and that the maker of the universe knit us together to be just who we are. Psalm 139: 13 - 14.

So I am content with my grass and my snow!

Jill