we are all right
A while ago i was having a conversation with someone about my story and they too were sharing theirs with me…but they prefaced their story with “my story was not nearly as bad and hard as yours.” as always i say something like “we each have our own journey and each person’s is different.” And honestly i didnt think a second more about it. We moved on and talked about the amazing things that God has brought both of us through and the grace that He has kindly lavished on us. We finished our coffee’s, left and carried on with our separate lives.
As my week continued the phrase “my story was not nearly as bad and hard as yours” seemed to be a theme. I started reading a new book called “The Kids are All Right” by Amanda, Diana, Dan and Liz Welch.
It is their memoir, all giving an account of growing up under the same roof but having very different memories and stories from the same times. But the title says it all, the kids are all right. No matter what they felt or remembered…even if it was different than their siblings they are all right. It was as if God was trying to get my attention. To speak something to my heart.
During Life Group a couple weeks ago we were talking about some situations happening in my life and the lives of those of us in the group and it came up again. “my situation is not as bad as __________. So i guess it could be worse….”
and in that moment i think the lightbulb came on for me. I heard what God was trying to say to me all week.
I always hear people comparing their stories….almost one upping eachother to see who has or had it worse. But in either case dont we all have it the worst?
In our circumstances. In our stories. In our pasts. in our present situations. It is our story. and we are right.
and for us in that time or this time it is the worst….for us.
statements like “my story is not nearly as bad or hard as yours.” is robbing yourself of the hardships and trials that you had to endure to get you to today. Yes, mine may be different than yours…but harder?
to you it is hard….and it should stay that way…
remember as you share your story and listen to others that we are all right. we all have different levels that we can endure…we all have different lives and stories.
But we are all right.
love it!
you got stuck in spam. #fail
Exactly.
The comparison game is hard to get out of, but I want to … so keep me accountable to that, please. I think I've had a pretty cruisy life even with all the crap, but to others it may seem hard or impossible. Likewise, I hear other stories and think "how on earth did you survive that??"
We all have different endurances. We need to acknowledge that, 'cause God sure does :)
i will. cause this is something that God has been beating me over the head with…cause i hold some pride in my story,…the i survived….but it doesnt make me better than others who may not have quite the story….humble…and realize that God is the one that carried me through and not me. mmmdang.
Wow. This really resonates with me, especially with all that has been going on in my life right now.
Praying for you. let me know if you need anything.
It's natural, but unfortunate to compare ourselves with everyone. Sadly, we usually put ourselves down. So my story, my blog, my taste in music, all my skills are not as good as someone else, so they don't deserve recognition. That of course is not true, but it puts us in a wrong frame of mind.
I hope you have a great New Year of blogging and telling your story!
what you said is very true….why do we compare ourselves? thanks for the kind words.
Totally get this post. Our story of sex and porn addiction (the entire story) is really bad. I have heard the same thing from others and it was so discouraging when I first started sharing… when I was still in the middle of it. It was very hurtful. Thanks for this reminder. xoxo