J is for Jealousy

I think blogs can be dangerous.

It's easy to look at someone's blog and get a snapshot of what their life is like and think they've got everything together.

I find myself looking at a blog and comparing my world to their world.  "Oh, they're off to China for another adoption!"  Insert little green monster of envy here.  Or, "Wow, they have more kids than I do, and their oldest is only 13!"  Or, "They've got twins!  I've always thought it would be so cool to have twins."  Wistful sigh.  Or, "Wow, they do such cool homeschooling stuff!  All I ever do is nag my kids to finish their book work.  I wish my kids would work harder to get the boring stuff done so we could do more fun stuff."  Even reading about loving gestures from a husband to a wife can make me a little more  sad and lonely when Paul is gone for days at a time.  

Jealousy is an ugly thing.  

It's important to keep things in perspective and realize that you're only seeing what the blog writer wants you to see.  The hard things they may not be writing about are just as much a part of their life.

I've deliberately NOT created an account on Pinterest.  I don't want to go there.  I don't want to see all the amazing things that other people are making/doing.  I don't want to diminish what I *am* doing by feelings of inferiority.  

My life isn't perfect, and I hope no one who reads my blog thinks that it is.  I've got my challenges just like everyone else.  But my life is a good life, and I need to remember to appreciate where God has me, and not covet where He's placed other people.