You should be happy that he’s verbal; it could be so much worse…..<\/p>\n
The words stung as they hit my heart.\u00a0 I had been sharing with a friend my frustration, weariness and grief dealing with my autistic son.\u00a0 I was in need of some comfort and encouragement, instead, I was met with instructions to compare.<\/p>\n
We are\u00a0taught to compare.\u00a0 We compare in order to make choices.\u00a0 We compare prices to get the best deal.\u00a0We compare different products to choose the one that works the best.\u00a0 Comparing can be helpful when we need to make a choice, but now, comparing has somehow become a way we try to comfort one another.<\/p>\n
It seems that the objective is to find some set of circumstances that is worse than the circumstances presented.\u00a0 Upon finding said circumstances, we are to find ourselves instantly and magically feeling better about the difficult circumstances of our own lives.\u00a0 How ridiculous!\u00a0 Yet, we continue to do it.<\/p>\n
We say\u00a0it’s\u00a0for perspective; things could be so much worse.\u00a0\u00a0I’m all for keeping things in perspective and being thankful and content for what you have, but that doesn’t take away the pain or difficulty of any situation.\u00a0 What it says to me is that my feelings aren’t valid.\u00a0 That I’m wrong for feeling the way I do.\u00a0 That I’m not thankful for what I have.\u00a0\u00a0 It’s not true, though.\u00a0 I am thankful for what I have.\u00a0 But life is hard.\u00a0 There is pain and sorrow.\u00a0 I get weary.<\/p>\n
And all of this comparing leaves us separated from one another.\u00a0\u00a0We don’t want to\u00a0divulge\u00a0our difficulties or hardships just to be told to be happy that things aren’t worse. \u00a0So we silently suffer by ourselves; not wanting to share our hearts.<\/p>\n
And what about the person whose circumstances are worse?\u00a0 Are they now supposed to find others\u00a0in worse places?\u00a0 What about those at the ‘bottom’?\u00a0 What’s their solution?\u00a0 Or does it become a case of sucks to be you?!<\/p>\n
This comparison thing doesn’t offer any real<\/em> solutions.\u00a0 Even if\u00a0thinking of worse circumstances makes you feel better, the relief is fleeting.\u00a0 In a short period of time\u00a0it goes away and you’re left with the hurt you began with.\u00a0 There has got to be a better way.<\/p>\n What if we\u00a0began to just\u00a0listen?\u00a0 What if we\u00a0acknowledged the difficulties of life? What if friends began taking each other to God instead of other people?\u00a0 What if we stopped comparing our circumstances with others’ and started\u00a0comparing them to God; who He is, His power, His love?\u00a0 Maybe we would reach out.\u00a0 Maybe we would find comfort.\u00a0 Maybe we would find encouragement.\u00a0 Maybe we would find strength.\u00a0 I think it’s worth a try…..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You should be happy that he’s verbal; it could be so much worse….. The words stung as they hit my heart.\u00a0 I had been sharing with a friend my frustration, weariness and grief dealing with my autistic son.\u00a0 I was … Continue reading