The Dangers of Comparison

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As I sit here in my humble living room, with my thrifted cup of regularly brewed hot coffee, I feel blessed. While small, I have a beautiful home filled with many possessions. I may not have an expensive new mug, I may not have a fancy coffee machine, and my living room may be small – yet I am blessed. However, this is not the main reason I feel blessed. I feel blessed because of my extremely loving family and friends who fill this home with joy and laughter. I am blessed because of the community that is constantly surrounding me.

I could take the time to compare my belongings and my home to the others’ around me. It is smaller, it could use better decorations, and it has close to no valuable stuff. And at times I do compare. I am terribly guilty of this.

Once begun, this comparison consumes me. It takes over my thoughts, and soon they become thoughts of judgement and above all – jealousy. What a terribly ugly word. These are the thoughts and feelings that bring about gaps in relationships that could otherwise be something beautiful.

As I search for a double stroller for my upcoming new arrival I am blinded by the popular and expensive brand that I dream of having. Once again I begin to compare with my friends – they have this stroller, so I should too. I feel like a little girl saying to her mom, ‘But mom… Sally has it!’ Do we ever truly grow up from that?

We can. But this is a choice. It is a choice to compare, a choice to see things in competition, and a choice to let this overcome our relationships.

“Comparison steals our joy.” – Anonymous

Don’t let it. When taking away this element of comparison, perhaps more relationships can begin. Perhaps relationships that were never thought of before can be made new.

Can poor be friends with rich? Can those who are in the midst of struggle be friends with those who are in a season full of blessing?

They can if we choose. Take away this element of comparison, and what we have in its place is love, respect, and understanding. Love and respect for one another. Love and understanding for each other no matter what circumstance or what condition we may be in.

Today, as I sit with my coffee, I push away my thoughts of comparison and instead remember thoughts of blessing, thoughts of love.

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Esther Vandersluis

Esther is a Canadian writing from Hamilton, Ontario, living in a sea of pink as a girl mom to three. Find her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/beautifulalarm) where you will find writing for stay-at-home moms, moms with littles, sleep-deprived moms, moms feeding babies, and babies with failure to thrive, all under the umbrella of faith in Jesus Christ.

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