Thursday has rolled around again so it’s time for another day of Blogging Through the Alphabet! This week the focus is the letter C.
C is for the Comparison Trap
You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? It’s that subtle shift in thinking from Contentment to Comparing, which leads to Discontent. The comparison trap may spring on you in any area of your life but today I want to speak to mothers.
“I’m not as thin/pretty/fashionable as she is.”
I think this is a common trap for women in general and for mothers in particular. This comparison is dangerous because you are giving up your peace and contentment with the person God created you to be. You’re uniquely made by a loving Heavenly Father. You are one of a kind. You have joined with your husband and with God to create and grow life.
If you’ve ever given birth to children your body has undergone some of the most amazing changes. Muscles and organs stretch and make way for a tiny human being. Weight increases. Things shift. However once the baby is born they tend to leave those changes behind as a memento of your shared 9 months together. Aren’t they sweet?
Why are we ashamed of the evidence carved into our very bodies that we are mothers?
The Savior chose to keep the evidence of his love and sacrifice for us when he took up his resurrected body. He kept the prints of the nails in his hands and feet, the print of the spear wound. Why do we wish away the evidence of our love and sacrifice for the children we have born?
If you are caught in this trap of comparison right now I invite you to change your thinking. Each time you find yourself negatively comparing yourself with others capture those thoughts and replace them with truth:
- I’m a strong, capable woman.
- My body is different now that I am a mother, it shows my love on the outside too.
- I’m beautiful because I’m a child of God.
- I can be healthy and a mommy.
- My husband thinks I’m the most beautiful woman in this room.
At first you’re probably going to feel silly, I know I did. You may not believe the truth right away. It’s okay. Just keep telling yourself the truths that God sees and one day you’ll realize your thoughts have changed. You’ll have contentment when seeing the evidence your body gives that you are a mother.
And by the way, C is for Contentment too!
11 comments:
Love, love, LOVE it!!! What a beautiful reminder! :)
Hugs,
Rachel
wow . . . I was reading along in this post, agreeing with what you said . . . and then you said that the Saviour chose to keep His wounds visible . . . and that stopped me cold. What a powerful image and reminder to us as women who bear the scars of pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood on our bodies . . .
THANK YOU!
My Dh is so very patient with me as I try so very hard to learn this very important thing. I love your list.
Thank you for posting this much needed reminder.
Blessings!
Robin
I never thought of the Savior taking up His body but choosing to leave the evidence of what He had done. It is an unspoken testimony of the sacrifice He made and that changed the way I look at myself after giving birth to 6 children. Thank you!
Dido what everyone else said.
what an encouragement! great post!
Love what you had to say! It's been one of those days and these are the words I needed to read. Thank you!
What an awesome persective! Thanks!!!
I love the new look of your blog, Tristan -- the header is great! What a beautiful family! :-)
awesome. thank you, Tristan.
Post a Comment