Comparing and Measuring

The holidays are over, yet they seem to linger on and on. We are ready to hit the ground running, yet it is hard getting others to comply with our own reality. We are ready to go, go, go when others are still wanting to sip hot cocoa and sit by the fire listening to Christmas carols. I can understand both!

I like to reflect on the 'old' year which we just left behind. Many questions fill my mind. Did I reach my goals that I had set? How did I react to changes that came? Did I get a handle on my distorted thinking? Did I make a good way towards the path to my dreams? I generally don't make new year's “resolutions” and haven't since I was a little girl. But if you did make them, did you keep the ones from last year? Did you make new ones for this year and were they realistic? Did I make plans, and then stick to them?

So many questions fill my mind as I reflect back over 2024. Some things I am ready to let go of, others I am not wanting to part with. This time of reflection is so healing as I see the many things I went through this past year, and how Jesus was with me through every single thing good and bad. He never left my side-ever!

After some time away from social media, you get back on to catch up a bit and see how everyone else's holidays went. That can be fun, catching up with people dear to you whom you haven't seen in a while. I am wowed by all of the large families, usually wearing all matching pajamas and doing so many fun family activities together. Their family is perfect, perfect and all is perfect according to all of these happy pictures which they post. For many who have no family, for those struggling with loneliness this hits hard. This hits in a very vulnerable place. We might wonder, we might start to think- to question ourselves- Why don't I have a family like that? Why doesn't my family love me like that? How did I get the short end of the straw as far as families go?

The enemy is right there with helping us in comparing ourselves and in measuring our worth against so many others happy holiday pictures that are posted. It is important to remember that. And for those perfect looking families we must remember, to look behind the smiles as we often don't see or know about-

-the sadness in a daughter's eyes at finding last year's Christmas present shoved in the back of a closet and still in new wrapping and never used, hidden away.

-an uncle making fun of a nephew who is not married and is not currently in a dating relationship with anyone. After this young man is the brunt of many jokes, no one comes to his side or speaks up for him, he is faced with awkwardness and blank stares.

-a daughter-in-law feeling awkward because her matching p j's don't fit, they were too small and she is embarrassed.

-a young married couple amid all of their married siblings-all with children, and they keep getting asked over and over “When will y'all start your family?”

We must remember that even in the best loving families, there is conflict, there are issues. In a family, all of the drama, all of the chaos is put together in an orchestra which the enemy provides, and all of this music is far from what our ears wish to hear.

For some, the only time they see family is during the holiday season, and for many that is quite enough.

So much significance is put on just one single day. We spend months getting ready and in preparation for this day. It comes and goes so quickly, we then sit around wondering where it went, how it went so fast, how it always goes so fast.

This year, may we live each day as it is- a very special gift to be unwrapped and savored.

-the people in our life, cherished

-may we be happy for others- yet never compare our lives with theirs

Realize that our family is those who treat us with love and respect, those deserving of our time and whom we wish to be with.

In measuring our worth- let us first and always look to Jesus!

Joshua 1:9- be strong and courageous for He is always with us!

Psalm 27-fearlessly trusting in Him, even when our father and mother forsake us

Psalm 139:14-we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Isaiah 40:31-those who wait, gain strength, they run and are not tired

Luke 12:7- our very hairs are numbered!

In the end, it won't really matter if they didn't like your gift, or a neon sign was put on your marital status, or if the pajamas fit or if you have kids.

What matters most, what is most important- is . . . . Jesus. His love for you. Suddenly all of the loneliness disappears- and you're filled with joy. Jesus joy!

Seeing all of the possibilities of 2025-may His excitement illuminate our hearts, as we move forward into a brand new year filled with His blessings.

Seeking His face this year- may we all spread out our wings- and fly high!

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