Wednesday, April 15, 2009

On Comparing Oneself to Others

Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.

- St. Francis de Sales

This is a lesson I've been learning, but I had some tough years before it started sinking in.

It's enough of a challenge to live my vocation as God wills. Why would I try to be someone else? It's one thing to be inspired or educated by another, but it's just wrong to criticize myself because I don't write like her or school like her or keep house like her, if I'm truly doing MY best. We don't all have the same gifts (or challenges).

1 comment:

  1. Thank you thank you thank you! I so need reminding of this. Tomorrow one of my friends is coming over -- a friend with her "perfect" children, in their "perfect" clothing, with their "perfect" manners, from their "perfect house"... I always feel like a bumbling fool around her, I don't see her often anymore. I will see her tomorrow and think about being the perfect me -- not the perfect her! Thanks for the encouragement and eniglightment...

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