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Comparing oneself with others

I'm sitting here looking at natural hair videos. I'm looking at girls with hair that is super longer than mine and yes the green monster of envy is baring it's teeth right now. But then I remember a comment my cousin said to me. I was talking to her about feeling like I've been growing this hair for so long (since I was born) and I feel like there is nothing to show for it. Don't get me wrong. I do recognize there has been some growth but there are some girls who have only been natural for three years and their hair is dead up longer than mine. As I was saying this to my cousin, she was nodding in agreement. She also mentioned that there are those girls with a hair texture that she does not have who are rocking all these cool hair styles that she feels she could not hope to rock because her texture is coarser. As I nod my head in agreement, she drops a bomb. She says,"I must say that YOU are one of those girls." I said, " ME?," And then she let me know that my hair texture is representative of all those looser hair patterns that she sees on the internet and I'm thinking that in two years her hair will also race past mine. While she sat there, dissatisfied with her texture, with me, dissatisfied with my rate of growth, there was no encouragement, no motivation to go on. I recall thinking that there is always someone better and how evil it is to compare oneself with others. 
I think back to an earlier conversation that I had with someone today about where God had brought us both from.  Yes, it was easy to comment and say that I am not all that innocent and it was easy for her to comment and say that she had done worst but in the end, we prayed and thanked God for bringing us from where we were and bringing us to where He wants us to be. I realize how easy it would be to compare our sins and flaws and to be jealous of each other's hair and testimony, but God is above all and He is our only comparison. 

Comments

  1. NickiOctober 30, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    Comparing oneself with others is a horrible thing to do to yourself. I try not to look at the natural hair video for too long. Cause then I am here worrying about how long their hair is and not giving mind care, cause I want the length now!! smh. Even though mum would say, "oh Nicole your hair is growing". It took me awhile to noticed it cause I was so blinded by the girls on youtube. But I'm good now, cause God has blessed me with what I can manage :).

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