It's so easy to compare ourselves to others isn't it?
Whether it's comparing your personality to others (I know you shy ones often wish you could be bold and outspoken like your friends... yet the outspoken ones wish they didn't have a case of "foot-in-mouth disease" so often), your talents and giftings, your looks, lifestyle etc... everyone at some point in their life struggles with comparing.
As a young girl, I was very shy and insecure. I didn't like myself or the way God made me. I didn't like the way I looked (braces, glasses and pimples galore), my voice (I was called "man's voice" at school!), the fact I wasn't good at certain things (like art or writing - yes, I was a maths nerd!)... and the list could go on. I was so busy comparing myself to others, that the "Kristy" God made me to be wasn't even getting a good shot at living life and finding out who she was.
As a young girl I remember reading the story below, and I came across it a few days ago and remembered how life changing it was for me. It made me realise that I was made to be me - I may not be like that person over there, or good at that thing like them, but I was made to be me and I needed to be the best me I could be.
There is something liberating about being comfortable in your own skin. There is also something really awesome about looking around at your friends and family and admiring the way they have been made. I love the fact that I have friends that are so different from me - together we make an amazing team.
So even though this story is one that impacted me as a child, I pray and hope it encourages you today (or maybe even your children) to be the best you that you were made to be.
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A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac.
And so on all through the garden. Coming to a heart's-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. "Well, heart's-ease, I'm glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened." "No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a heart's-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart's-ease that I can."
Source: Streams in the Desert, Volume 1
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13 comments
So very beautiful said! Thank you for this beautiful story that makes my heart smile! I can't wait to share it with my daughters.
ReplyDeletethis was beautiful Kristy
ReplyDeletethank you
love and light
eeee, I really really like that story..... Thankyou xx
ReplyDeleteSo true. I couldn't imagine you any other way.
ReplyDeleteFlamin' awesome :)
ReplyDeleteEncouragement achieved. Thank you!
xo
Lovely Kristy, and I loved your words as much as the story. Something I need to learn, even at this age. Xx
ReplyDeleteSo cool. And you DO make the best you! xx
ReplyDelete♥
ReplyDeleteyou are cool.
I love that Kristy. Once again you are a beautiful voice of encouragement to others xx
ReplyDeleteLove it ♥
ReplyDeleteVery timely indeed! Thank you so much! I might just use this with my class in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful little story and something I will be thinking over today. It is so easy to compare ourselves and dismiss our own strengths.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the story and post!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
Thanks for your comments... I love hearing from you!!!