Envy – The Shepherd's Daughter

His Design

Posted on July 2, 2014July 2, 2014 by Shelley

I felt like Lucy Pevensie, opening the wardrobe door and entering the magical world of Narnia, as I crossed the threshold of the white-bricked historic home to attend a friend’s surprise birthday party on Sunday.

Only I had stepped onto the pages of a home decorating magazine.

An eclectic, but pleasing arrangement of shabby chic style furniture filled the living room, which was also inhabited by little bird figurines and mossy nests. The dining room table in the adjoining room was elegantly set with black and white china, napkins and silverware, as if dinner guests were expected at any moment. (They were not. We were there for a casual BBQ on the back patio.) Throughout the house, vintage glass dishes and bowls had been repurposed into charming candle holders, set amidst accents of rustic burlap and greenery.

(Even the cats were dining out of whimsical little decorative dishes in assorted shapes and colors. I kid you not.)

It was quite fanciful.

I was taking it all in when a joy-robbing thought intruded, dispersing my delight and inviting envy:

My house looks nothing like this.

Oh, I try. But my best attempts at “shabby chic” just end up looking…shabby. When I display my flea market finds, the effect is somewhat…flea-ting. (Sorry, just couldn’t resist.)

I “tried” again the following night as we prepared to host a couple of friends for dinner. Inspired by my visit to The Amazingly Decorated Home, I tied some scraps of burlap ribbon to several canning jars and arranged some random candles inside. I bought some pretty white flowers for a centerpiece. (I even remembered to move the plastic cat dish OFF of the table before we ate.)

Need I say more?

My house will never look like hers.

And you know what? It’s O.K.

Because while I may not have inherited the decorating gene, I am gifted. So are you. God says so.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, NLT)

I love to teach. There’s just something about digging into God’s Word and unearthing hidden gems that thrills my soul. I have trouble keeping them to myself! God made me this way.

What is your gift?* Is it serving behind the scenes? Showing compassion to the hurting? Leading the way? Creating a home that invites and delights?

Whatever it is, remember God is the Distributor.

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (1 Corinthians 12:11, NLT).

Who are we to compare? I want to be so secure in who God created me to be that I am free to enjoy and embrace others’ giftedness.

God has put each part just where he wants it. (1 Corinthians 12:18b, NLT)

God is the Designer. When we offer our gifts to His service, He will arrange them masterfully. Even those that are chipped and faded can be transformed into objects of beauty and usefulness in His hands. Each of us has a unique and special place in His design.

We all have talents to bring to the table.

Let’s share and celebrate them instead of comparing and envying them.

*For a brief Spiritual Gifts Inventory, you can follow this link: http://59384.inspyred.com/images/Spiritual%20Gifts%20Test.PDF

It’s Not Easy Being Green

Posted on February 9, 2013November 16, 2013 by Shelley

I was scrolling down my facebook news feed, unaware of what was lurking nearby. Without warning it leapt out from where it had been hiding behind a friend’s innocent facebook post. And in the blink of an eye, it had me firmly in its grip.

It was the “Green-Eyed Monster.” A.k.a. Envy. And green with it I was.

My friend was merely inquiring if anyone knew where she might find a Shih Tzu puppy for sale. I was startled by the intensity and suddenness of my response, not unlike the way our skittish Siamese cat’s tail “poofs” at the slightest provocation. (More on the cat in a minute.)

You see, our family once loved a Shih Tzu. (Only we prefer to pronounce it with a long ‘e’ vowel sound. It’s less offensive that way.) For nearly 8 1/2 years, our little “Sandy dog” graced our lives with her sweet personality and gentle ways. She went to doggie heaven just over two years ago. Her death left a gaping hole in our home, one we weren’t sure could ever be filled. So we were in no rush to run out and replace her.

Lately, however, we’ve been missing having a little fluffball (or “rat-dog,” as my husband prefers to call this breed) underfoot. But two major obstacles stand in the way: 1) an unfenced yard, and 2) the aforementioned cat. The yard would be an easy enough (albeit expensive) problem to fix. The cat is another story. She doesn’t play well with others. And she has claws. It’s all fun and games until an unsuspecting puppy gets an eye poked out.

So here we sit. Dog-less. Which brings me back to my green-tinged reaction. And helps me understand it.

Envy always exposes something we desperately want or deeply desire. There is nothing wrong with the desire in and of itself. It crosses over into sin, however, when we let the fact that others possess the object of our desire cause us to covet. Merriam-Webster defines “covet” as “to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another.” (Emphasis mine.)

God is pretty clear on this:

“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey (or dog–I added this), or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17, NLT)

But He never issues a command without also providing the means to obey it. I wonder if the way to escape the clutches of the green-eyed monster might be found in this verse:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, NIV)

Now I happen to really love this particular facebook (and real-life) friend. What if she were to get a cute little Shih (don’t forget, long ‘e’) Tzu pup? Would I begrudge her the joy this four-legged, furry family member would bring? Not if I truly loved her. For “…love does not envy others the happiness which they enjoy…” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)

When I focus on love instead of on what I lack, I find myself wanting what’s best for her. And I can trust that The God Who Is Love will also provide what is best for me. (Shih Tzus for everyone!) Love loosens envy’s grasp and frees us from its control.

Au Revoir, Envy. Hello, Love.

(Green was never a good color on me anyway.)