Because I was away this weekend, I didn’t get a
chance to
look at the Sunday advertisements until yesterday morning. While perusing the
ads, I noticed several area grocery stores were claiming to have Michigan grown
produce like cucumbers, zucchini, and cabbage on sale this week. What?
How can that be, I wondered? Last
week one of our group members, Debra, said that she got cucumbers and squash at
a Farm market in Boyne City. Hmm… I
planted several different varieties of vegetables this year, most of them in
pots, but have yet to harvest anything other than a few beans and a couple of
tomatoes. While the tomatoes were absolutely delicious, I don’t even have a
cucumber or zucchini growing on the vine yet, although the plants have many
flowers and a lot of leaves. I’m guessing those flowers are not getting
pollinated. I do, however, have one….ONE….little
watermelon growing!
I have been so excited about my little garden so far. I get
such joy out of the flower gardens and checking the vegetables every day. It
makes me smile to watch things grow and flourish, and I am anxious to enjoy the
fruits of my labor. I’ve been happy thus far with the progress considering the
cold spring and summer, but I guess I’m not realizing that summer is passing so
quickly and I should be harvesting things by this point. I thought things were
growing great…..UNTIL….I read that others are already eating home-grown produce.
Yesterday, at my speaking engagement, I was given several cucumbers, squash,
and pea pods that were picked that day at the community garden growing out
front of the business. The garden was FULL of other things ready to
harvest. What’s up with all that? Although
I was thrilled to get some fresh vegetables for dinner, I couldn’t help but
feel a bit deflated to think that other gardens were actually producing fruit…and
with the exception of the tomatoes and my one little beautiful watermelon….my
plants are just flowering at this point. I almost let ‘envy and comparison”
take away the joy of eating a home-grown cucumber for dinner.
As I pondered this situation last night, I realized that God
was simply giving me a reminder that I thought I had learned long ago: namely,
that “We should not compare OUR personal journey to that of another!”
Otherwise, we can very easily lose the joy that comes from the progress and personal
growth that is happening in our life as a result of the changes and choices we
are making. So many times we get down and discouraged when others are losing weight
faster than us; when others get better grades in school or make more money;
when it seems like everyone else is getting the “breaks” in life, have better
health, happier lives, can run faster….walk further….do things better and more
easily than us. It’s a human tendency to compare our journey to those around
us.
Fighting that “green-eyed-monster” is not always easy….but
giving into it and wondering why “someone else has all the breaks or is making
progress or is doing better than us…” is one of the quickest ways to suck the
life, energy, and joy right out of our lives and sabotage our journey. Instead of being thrilled that we lost 10
pounds, went 10 days without a drink or cigarette, can now walk 1 whole mile,
earned a C on that exam that we worked so hard to prepare for….or were able to
get away for a weekend camping trip….whatever…..we begin to feel deflated
because someone else has lost 50 pounds, just ran a 5k, earned an “A”, or is
leaving next week for a cruise. Giving in to a mentality of comparison….envy….jealousy….impatience….
INSTEAD OF GRATITUDE for even the smallest bit of progress can so easily derails
us and cause us to give up. I could have easily felt frustrated with my little
garden if I sulked that I didn’t even have a silly little cucumber yet! BUT…. I thought about it….and instead, I remembered
the JOY of seeing those plants sprout new leaves; the HOPE that I feel when I water
them and pull stray weeds; the anticipation that my efforts will PAY OFF….at
some point this summer….and the realization that I was able to enjoy the fruits
of someone else’s garden for dinner when I ate those cucumbers that someone
picked that very afternoon. My hope is
that my own little garden will eventually produce vegetables….and that my sweet
little perfect watermelon will grow enough to be eaten….BUT….even if it doesn’t
before the summer wanes, I still am enjoying the process of watching things
grow before my very eyes!
So much like our journey…….I may not EVER lose these last 15
pounds......or come to accept all this excess skin…..or become the kind of
person I want to be……but if I focus on all of that, I will miss the joy that
comes from each day. I encourage you to
rejoice in YOUR JOURNEY….your progress, however small it may be….and work
really hard not to compare yourself with others who are on a similar
journey. Try to draw energy from those
special moments on the journey…like wrapping that beach towel around you when
you get out of the water and realizing that for the first time in years, it
goes all the way around you……or walking up a hill while garage-saling and
realizing that your are not out of breath….or putting on a piece of clothing
that has been hanging in the closet for a while and discovering that it is too
big….or even, seeing an in-law or neighbor that typically causes you to cringe
and realizing that he/she can’t push your buttons anymore! Smile and be grateful for the blessings of
the day……Like that little watermelon on my vine. We are
all a work in progress….and we will bloom and blossom ( OR MAYBE NOT)….IN DUE
Time…IN GOD’s TIME, not ours!
Make it a good day today by giving thanks for ANY progress…ANY growth…..ANY step in the right direction this day!
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