They say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Frankly, I have felt that way often. That I’m on the less green side. Everyone else seems to have more and/or better things than we do. We don’t own our house, we don’t have the newest cars, and we don’t take fancy vacations. In this materialistic society, it is so easy to get caught up on what we *don’t* have and forget about the blessings we do have. If I choose to focus on everything we don’t have, then yes the grass is way greener over there. Ours would be looking dull and brown.
Yet if I focus on the positives, it’s not hard to see that I have a few many blessings. A husband, a son…all of us healthy. Friends and family that love us despite our many flaws quirks. A great church-well, technically TWO great churches, as we are in the process of switching from a great one to another great one closer to home. A too small home that is just enough for our small family. Two cars that run, jobs, insurance, enough income to pay our bills and provide our needs. Above all else, a God that loves us and forgives us. When we choose to focus on the blessings, it’s obvious we’re very blessed people. When I look at life this way, our grass is very green.
And still…sometimes I just don’t see it that way. The blessings are often clouded by the selfish desires. Until recently.
Until *Casey.
Casey is our 8 year old neighbor. We have known her for over a year now. She comes over to play with Jonah. Often. Every day during Spring Break, she was here. Every day after school and on weekends? She’s here. All. Day. LONG. In our yard. In our house. Helping herself to Jonah’s outside toys and bikes. Right up in my face, asking us where we were going, if she could come with. Not getting the hint when she is told no. She has asked to come to Jonah’s family birthday dinner, invited herself to his birthday party, asked to come grocery shopping with us, and asked us to take her to Chick Fil A and the park, to name just a few. Sometimes I say yes. Sometimes I say no. Sometimes I get extremely frustrated with this child that won’t leave our family alone.
Recently I’ve been thinking about the Casey situation. Realizing she doesn’t have a wonderful home life. Lots of yelling, not much attention otherwise. The girl is lonely. Yes she has a mom, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents…all in our development. Yes, I’m sure they love her. But she is a lonely little girl. She is looking for love and attention, wanting to be a part of what we are and what we have. She is just eight years old, but she can see that Jonah’s home life is different… has a home filled with love. She can tell that we love spending time with Jonah and enjoy taking him places. Casey sees something in our family that she wants. And that humbles me, puts things into perspective. I never thought anyone else would desire the life our family lives. To me, our life is average. Perfect for us…but nothing others would covet. And yet, Casey wants in. So, even though it’s frustrating at times, we’ve chosen to focus on the positives in life. We’ve chosen to focus on the positives of Casey, too, and how God has put her in our lives for a reason. We’ve chosen to include her more, show her more grace and mercy, and show her God’s love.
To at least one person, we are on the side of the fence that has the greener grass. And we’re opening the gate.
*not her real name
