Sunday, March 23, 2014

It's Not a Competition...Yet

So you know those recreational leagues where the emphasis is on having a good time and everyone is a winner? I hate those. I think it promotes laziness and an unrealistic grasp of how life works, but most of all it doesn't sit well with my love for competition. Board games, video games, sports, tests I want to win them all! I wish I could tell you my thirst for victory stopped there but motherhood, business ownership, life I want to win those too. The thing is you can't be the best at everything, you just can't. 

I saw something last week that said "Comparison is the thief of joy." and boy don't I know it. I struggle with a competitive spirit. I want so badly to be the best that I struggle to be happy for you when you succeed. Your promotion reminds me that my business hasn't really taken off yet. Your PDA reminds me that my marriage isn't always picture perfect. And I'm not okay with that. 

A lot of people assume that this is a man's issue. Get real Mom's! How many of us feel that twinge to "one up" when a lady posts her kids successes. We've got to stop it! It was the need to be better than the rest that got Satan cast out of heaven. The root of competitiveness and perfectionism is pride. Make a decision today that okay can sometimes be okay. Fight for joy with me! We can share a slice of humble pie. I'll bring the whipped cream! 

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 
Gal. 6:3AMP

3 comments:

  1. shew Julia, appreciate the knife in the heart early this morning! .. but I so appreciate your honesty! .. so I shall jump on your humble pie band-wagon and embrace the concept that I must stop striving to be the best at everything, .. but after giving this some thought I have realized this will be VERY uncomfortable (which since truly committing to Christ I have learned is just my norm these days) so I will require chocolate .. lots of chocolate in the form of hot liquid as well as cakes .. :)

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  2. It's such a fine line, when you deal with a stronghold of perfectionism, between doing your best and wanting to be THE best. We have to really check the motivation of our hearts. Is it to bring Him glory or us glory?

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