Greener Pastures

Where i live there are many pastures. From my van i admire the beautiful green grass in these pastures and yes, some are greener than others.

But a thought occurs to me as i drive by, "It must take a lot of manure to make that grass so green." And this is true in my life as well.

When i see others with beautiful homes, nice cars, the best that money can buy and all those other things i think i want, it helps to remember they have their messes too. No life is without them. But it is so easy to look at others greener pastures and envy what we see there while what lies in that grass, hidden from our view would change our worldly perspective.

Maybe then we would be more content with our own pastures as we try to make the most of what we have been given. Just let us not become so content that we do not reach across the fence to those on the other side...even if their grass is greener!

Get Understanding!

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29 "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression." Proverbs 19:11 Until i read these verses from my devotion time this morning i never really thought to link my lack of understanding to my lack of patience. Now i wonder why. It makes all the sense in the world! Anger is like prejudice, they are both rooted in misunderstanding. What usually causes me to lose my patience? When the kids ask me questions i cannot answer and i believe i should be able to answer, that makes me angry. And though i am not angry at them they are the ones who see and hear my frustration. When something doesn't work like it should, say a computer, vehicle or appliance, if i can't figure out for myself why it doesn't work i become angry. Patience never has been one of my greatest virtues and i see now that it is related to the fact that i have always felt there is more to my being here than what i am experiencing. Though i know God created me with a purpose and a plan i have always tried to play it safe, never getting too far from my comfort zone. Now i am seeing that my comfort zone may be comfortable but it isn't healthy. As long as i stay here i will continue to lack understanding. As long as i lack understanding i lack patience. I can no longer be content to play it safe. It has never really brought me contentment anyway. For that i must turn to God who gives me the understanding i need to be all that He created me to be. Only then will the anger subside.