Pursuing Love: No room for jealousy

This week's topic for Pursuing Love is "No room for jealousy." Marsha asked some great questions with this post.

I think most everyone has felt jealous at some point about something if we are honest about it. I notice it in myself when I see someone else have a real great idea. I think to myself, "What a great idea! I wish I would have thought of doing that."

There's a story I remember from my middle school years. Some girls were very mean to me constantly. I didn't know what I'd done or why they kept treating me so hatefully. I came home upset many days after their rude remarks as I'd walk by them, and one day in gym I even got hit in the back with a basketball that was thrown rather hard in my direction. I tried to ignore it, but it got to the point that my Mom felt she had to address the issue with the principal. It finally came out that the girls were jealous of me. I had no idea. It took many years for me to really forgive those girls. One even became a good friend to me in later years. This has shown me how ugly jealousy can be.

Jealousy may start as something small but it can quickly get out of hand and grow into something that damages many relationships. We will hurt people in our attempts to try to be better than them. These wounds and scars will last many years. As Christians we need to be on the watch for jealousy.

Have a day of blessings!