comparison is the thief of joy.

man, has God been teaching me that lately. 

com·par·i·son

1. the act of comparing. 2. the state of being compared.

 as long as there have been humans on this earth, there has been comparison. Take Joseph's brothers for example, they sold their own brother because they couldn't take the fact that when they compared themselves to him, they felt inferior. 

Ladies, how often do you find yourself on instagram, stalking someone you look up to or someone "instafamous" and comparing yourself to them? Maybe it's their great wardrobe, their 15 seconds of perfect harmonies, knack for DIY projects, their seemingly perfect relationship, or even how they always manage to get the perfect smokey eye?

guys, I don't know for sure about you, but it can't just be a female struggle. someone's always gonna have greater biceps than you or a better car.

How many hours have we spent feeling sorry for ourselves that we don't posses the skills we wish we did? I'll be honest, if comparison were an olympic sport, I'd had already won gold.

Today, I attended the funeral of an absolutely beautiful soul. She was only 18 years old and she has often been described as "pure sunshine." her smile and spirit lit up every room she walked into. Everyone agreed that she lived and loved more in her 18 years than most people do in 100.
During the duration of this funeral, not once was her beautiful curly hair and big brown eyes, model Christian relationship, cute style or even her flawless voice mentioned. She was known by her love. She always dropped what she was doing to make you feel loved, she allowed Jesus to shine out of her to everyone she met. She was truly known by her love.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:12: “in all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point.” life is so fleeting, I don't know about you, but I don't wanna miss the point. I don't want to miss Jesus because I am too wrapped up in comparison, self-pity and worrying what others will think of me.

So how do we beat the temptation to compare ourselves to others? Thankfulness. being thankful to God for who we are and how He made us and trusting that we are all made for a special purpose.

I love this quote by Joyce Meyer, she says, "God must love variety or He wouldn't have created us all differently—even down to our fingerprints. You'll never succeed at being yourself if you're trying to be like someone else. Other people can be a good example to you, but duplicating even their good traits will manifest differently through your individual personality." You are beautiful, you were created for a huge purpose that only you can fulfill. When we can accept ourselves and love ourselves for who we are, we can walk in the ultimate freedom. 

Matthew 5:5 in The Message version says: “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought." so how about this, let's try to use the time that we would tear ourselves down to build others up! Instead of hating ourselves because we can't sing as well as the girl on instagram, how about telling her how beautiful her voice is, and then thanking God that He has instilled talents in you that He will reveal and use in its time. 

Because in the end, they won't know us by our clothes, our photography skills, how strong out "selfie game" is, or what instruments we played and how well. They will know us by our love. Be love today. 

nice tattoo, sorry it wont fulfill ya

tattoos. nose rings. body wraps. losing 65 lbs. going vegan & saving some animals. bellybutton ring. dying your hair every color of the rainbow.


I've tried these things. Who hasn't tried to dramatically change their appearance at an attempt to be happy?

You break up with a boyfriend? cut that man right outta your hair, right? Be the best thing he's never had! Lose those 20 lbs so he'll regret leaving you! These things will all make you happy, right? Wrong. So, so, so wrong.

The only reason you were made to think there is something wrong with the way you look is so people could sell you things. That's it. Society has told us that if we just fix how much the number on the scale says, if we just have ombre hair, if we just have perfect! flawless! clear skin! we will be happy.

hate to break it to you, coming from someone who has lost 65 lbs in the past two years, no matter how low the scale has gotten, I was never happier than I was when I was heavy. No matter if I had red hair, purple hair or black hair, it didn't fix any anxieties I have about the future. No matter how great the placement or font of the tattoo I have so originally picked out that has *soooo much meaning to me,* it won't fulfill me.

Do you know what fulfills? Stop being selfish and focusing on the way you look all the time.

"but I'm not a selfish person!"

So could I, the person who has voluntarily done the church nursery with no payment for 10 years, who wants to pack up her belongings and live in the slums of Africa for the rest of my life say. But the truth is, I am selfish. I am insecure about the future and sometimes unfulfilled and empty.

--For to set the mind on the flesh is death, for to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.-Romans 8:6.-- As cliche as it sounds, focus on the inside. When you think of yourself as a whole & beautiful person, you can live your life as a whole and beautiful person. rest in that peace.

There is nothing more beautiful and fulfilling than truly loving people. In order to love people, you have to make peace with and love yourself. Every day that you choose to love who you are on the inside, your passions, what motivates you, your heart, you will become more and more fulfilled. that is not selfish. that is freedom.

You are beautiful, you are loved, you will live an amazing, fulfilling life.

& that tattoo looks awesome, but sorry, it won't fulfill you.