She Looked Perfect . . .

She caught my eye as I turned the corner of the 40% off rectangular rack of pants – size 0, size 2, size 4, size 6, size 8 – on and on they wrapped around as I followed trying to get another glimpse between the hanging rows without her seeing me.

She was petite and short – like me.  She had dark brown hair – like me.  She was wearing a baseball cap – like me.

But envy still rolled over my body starting at the top of my head, going down over my shoulders, through my arms, into my stomach, and throughout my legs.

The urge to turn and stare was overwhelming.  I could barely help myself.  I turned one more time just to get one last glimpse, one last mental snapshot to etch in my mind – one last chance to compare.

My mind started racing, “That’s what I want to look like! Look at her arms! Look at her legs!  She is so cute!  She is so little!  Why can’t I be as skinny as she is?  Why can’t I look like that?”

She looked perfect . . .

Then it came – the gentle prick to my heart.  It was His prick.  The prick I know all too often.

Brenda, do you not know how perfect you are to me?  I created you.  I designed you.  I gave you legs that are healthy and arms that help me.  I do not want you to envy others.  That is a sin.  Envy will rot your body, and create confusion and evil.  And you are a new creation in Me.  So turn from envy and be thankful in all things I have given you including your body.  
I walked slowly out the door, no bags in my hands, but aware of the legs that were carrying me. Whatever the purposes God has for me, He needs this body to accomplish them.  And only this body can do the job.
How does envy affect you and how does God teach you through it?

Comments

2 responses to “She Looked Perfect . . .”

  1. melody-mae Avatar
    melody-mae

    wow. this is amazing and so true. we so often compare ourselves. our family, our home…we need to sit and rest and know what we have is good and from God!

  2. Donna Lynn Grace Avatar
    Donna Lynn Grace

    Thanks for posting this. I had a similar situation that I have still been trying to shake off. Once I gave room to those feelings of jealousy, it was hard for me to kick them out. I am still processing it and asking God to help me. I am reminded of the lavish forgiveness that God has poured out on me and my many sins. God is teaching me that I can learn from my sin and move forward or I can become paralyzed by that same sin and never mature and become the woman He created me to be. My choice. Ouch.

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