Compared to What?

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." -Exodus 20:17

My youngest son's discouraged face told me there was more to his frustration than receiving a C on his spelling test. I saw there was deep emotion waiting to be expressed. I offered a listening ear and a patient hug and he began to share, "I'm not as smart as everyone else in this family." He "knew" he wasn't as good as his siblings, and he wanted to be an A student too. His broken heart reflected my own childhood experience with insensitive teachers comparing my performance in school to high-achieving, older siblings. 

Comparing your children to one another can be dangerous: "When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10:12). God has uniquely gifted each of your homeschooled children, and He values each one. Encourage them to find their place in the family and then in the world. A sense of self-worth is developed as your children find areas in which God created them to excel. My son' niches were finally found in math, music and fishing. Hands down, neither his brother nor his sisters could match him in those areas. 

How many times a day do you compare yourself to others? Do you wish you looked like someone else, had her home or money or were as smart as she is? God knew envy was a problem for all human kind when he gave His commandment, "You shall not covet. . ." (Exodus 20:17). Compared to Christ, we all fall short of the glory of God.Let him lead you into hHs perfect will for your life and find the joyful niche He has created just for you. There is no better place to be for now and eternity!

-Taken from Homeschool Mom's Bible; devotions by Janet Tatman; p. 1171