Compassion Conquers Comparisons


Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.
Psalm 103:4


Handsome didn't begin to describe my youth group crush. All sense and strength drained from my body any time he entered the room. I tried to play it cool as my stomach played hockey. He was crossing the room with a bead on me.


"Do you want to go driving after?" 


What girl could resist such romance? I tried to offer a non-committal, "Sure," but knew my eyes likely betrayed my excitement. I must have counted to sixty a thousand times before he headed for the door. I sheepishly followed after.


He was one of those cool guys with a cool car built for two but with a minuscule back seat in which one could squeeze on an emergency basis only. Another girl was already standing by my car. What in the world was this? He asked me out.


When Mr. Dreamy arrived at his stud-mobile, he offered the cramped back seat to me and the prime real estate to Miss Moving-in-on-my-Man. A short drive later we were at the Alabama equivalent to Happy Days' Inspiration Point.


I was ordered out of the car. I sat on the back bumper as the windows fogged and the bumper began a rhythmic, albeit short-lived dance.


Humiliation seeped out and shrouded me in shame. 


I was nothing but a cover for Mr. Dreamy to pursue the girl he found worthy. I wasn't her. I was passed over. Unnoticed. Tossed aside.


I immediately drew comparisons between myself and Miss Shannon-You-Never-Had-a-Chance. She was well endowed; I wore two deflated balloons. She was flirtatious and fun; I was studious and serious. 


Do you ever draw comparisons between yourself and others?


When you see a mom with well-behaved children do you secretly wish you were less fun and more of a disciplinarian?


When you see a man who advanced quickly in his career do you try to guess the recipe of his success?


Comparisons are a losing proposition. We see the finish line not the pit stops along the way.


The woman with so-called perfect children may have pit stops such as kids who lack confidence, assertiveness and decision-making skills.


The man with the fast track may have pit stops such as compromising his values or ignoring his wife and kids.


Miss Chesty had many pit stops along the route of her life. They weren't pretty. They weren't desirable. They were tragic. 


A moment I thought of as humiliation was actually a crown of God's compassion and love. My purity was saved for another day. Eventually I would learn I didn't need a man to certify my beauty. I allowed the One who still inspires me to pull my life from the pit. He shrouded me in love and compassion. He compared me to no one and loved me exactly as He designed. His compassion conquered my comparisons. 


Have you ever been in the pit of comparison? How could God's love and compassion pull you out today?



24 comments:

  1. A beautiful post, thank you xx

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  2. Shannon, you have said what everyone of us have thought and experienced more than once in our lives because we compared ourselves to someone else. It is so hard to remember that He is the Only One who matters! Thanks for a beautiful reminder.

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    1. So true, Sherrey. I want to keep my focus on Him. He is the source of well everything. :)

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  3. Superbly written. I think comparisons have always been a problem, but in the digital, Photoshop age, they're devastating. There is only one comparison believers should be making--a comparison between ourselves and Christ.

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    1. "a comparison between ourselves and Christ" - we fall so short on that one but yet His mercy and compassion helps us close the gap day by day by day.

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  4. I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to check out your blog. So I decided to make time to get back and read your blog, and what an amazing post! We do make comparisons a lot when really there's only one that really matters.

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    1. I hear ya on busy! So glad summer is here. We've been enjoying the pool. Working for a few minutes and then taking the kids back for some more swimming!

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  5. Shannon I love this story and the lesson behind it. I learned a few years back that God did not want to compromise my integrity for success - man does. It is a human reaction to make comparisons anyway about where I should be at this point in my life but if I am going along according to His plans for me then I am right where I should be.

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    1. And His plans are so right and perfect. You are exactly where you should be!

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  6. What a gripping story. I was just reading a devotional this weekend about this - we often chase around the world looking for affirmation, when the best affirmation of all has already been gifted to us in Christ. Thanks for sharing Shannon!

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    1. Ooh this is so good - "the best affirmation has already been gifted to us in Christ." Totally quoting you on Twitter! :)

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  7. I loved reading this today!:) I like at the end when you said, "Eventually I would learn I didn't need a man to certify my beauty. I allowed the One who still inspires me to pull my life from the pit. He shrouded me in love and compassion." Learning we don't need a fella to define us was one of the toughest lessons I had to learn. Glad I'm not alone! But praising Jesus for the one HE hand-picked for me!

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    1. You know I still struggle with that. At times I get wrapped up in what my hubby thinks of me. Then I remember He is the One...I need no other.

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  8. Thank you for this clear, open blog. I like to read about this.

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  9. Oh Shannon, you do have a way with words! Love love love this and oh how I can relate. I did have to giggle a little bit about the car doing a rhythmic dance. :) Particularly loved the ending to the story though. As always, God is glorified.

    Hugs,
    Rosann

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    1. :) I was trying to be as delicate as possible.

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  10. Shannon, I love how God doesn't waste any of our experiences! Most excellent sister! Thanks! ~ Blessings, Amy

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    1. Amy, absolutely not. God doesn't waste a single drop or moment of our suffering. So thankful!

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  11. My heart just throbbed for your sorrow and the mean-spirited behavior of your teen connection. Not b/c I sure didn't see or experience it often in those years ... and continued in one way or another until the Lord broke into my life. The consequences of some of my high school friends? Similar to what you described as their future. We ain't young 'uns any more [grandmas, and great-grandmas]... and some are still dealing with those knee-jerk joyful choices when they didn't understand what could fall into their lives [unexpected babies is a very basic consequence -- no husband or one that is feeling forced to marry and then leaves in one way or another].

    I'm so happy for you. So blessed that our Father protected you and HE hugged you, which is a bit more important than anyone else doing it.

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    1. Girl you are so right. His hugs are truly the very best!

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  12. Thank you for sharing your awesome story At Tell Me a True Story.

    Betrayed, humiliated and confused, but what a stunning lesson you learned about the glitzy man. He was handsome on the outside but rotten inside. They say to never judge a book by its cover.
    Glad for a happy ending.

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    1. That's for sure. Thankfully my hubby is handsome on the outside AND beautiful on the inside - a truly stunning combination! :)

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