In the New Testament (Matthew chapter 20) there is a story about a man who hires laborers to work in his vineyard. In the morning, he hires some workers, and offers to pay them a penny for the day of work. Throughout the day, the man hires several others, offering them all a penny for their labors. At the end of the day, the workers who were hired at the beginning of the day that complain that they were given the same wages as those who were there only a short time. The man says to them, did you not agree to the wages at the beginning of the day? Why be jealous because I have been kind?
I was reading a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland and he explains how this applies to us.
"Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those." (2012 April General Conference, The Laborers in the Vineyard, Sat. Afternoon Session - Jeffrey R. Holland)
How true this rang in my thoughts. I am extremely blessed and have a wonderful life, but I am often guilty of feeling envious and upset when someone has more blessings, special recognition, or appears to have it better than I do. What a waste of my emotions! I should have joy and rejoice with them. It does not make me any less talented or awesome, or make my life any less special when I praise someone's talents or accomplishments, or great things they have done. For me, I love how good it feels when someone celebrates the great things in life with me. Should I not return the favor and celebrate others achievements?
These are the thoughts that have been swirling in my head today, and I have decided I am going to work on this-to rejoice with others instead of feeling jealous.
A picture of the pie I ate yesterday. Probably the best fruit pie I have ever eaten. Much better than the humble pie I am used to eating.
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6 comments:
I'm kind of jealous of your pie. Not that your having pie in any way diminishes my NOT having any pie. Or the brownies sitting in my freezer. I might just have to go remind myself how blessed I am to have my own dessert in my freezer....
I gave the RS lesson on this talk last week and I love it. It is one of those talks I should read every morning before getting our of bed.
That pie DOES look really delicious. And your thoughts on celebrating with others are good for us all to remember! Thanks for sharing them!
I'm guilty of those feeling sometimes too and you are right. What a waste of time!!! Great thoughts.
Oh my god, I don't mean to sound silly, but I can't imagine you being jealous, but I guess we all do get those thoughts sometimes. The strangest things get under my skin too, and I should try to think of it the way you do!
Thanks for the good reminder. I probably needed that! You are wise my friend! I will celebrate your accomplishments with you. :)
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