Do you ever look at other people and envy them because their life looked so much easier than yours? Fran has this very struggle. This imaginary story is intended to help us remember that Jesus is with us at all times, and to call upon him for strength, advice and direction.
 
Fran is a single mom, a widow whose husband was killed in a tragic accident a few years ago. She has two school-aged children, and all the typical struggles of a single mom.
 
"Why," Fran thinks as she fixes breakfast for the kids, "are Monday mornings so hard. Just seems like starting another week gets tougher every Monday. Mondays are the worse days."
 
Then she thinks about Sundays. “I don’t know,” she talks to the Lord as she cooks, “as tough as Mondays are, I think Sundays in a way are even worse, do you know what I mean, Lord? And you know why? Because at church it seems everybody else is married with husbands and family and a normal life. And I sit in church with the kids by myself ….well, it makes me lonely and reminds me that I’m different," Fran tries to explain.
 
"Most of my friends at church are married. Take Elinor, for example. I saw her yesterday. You know, we used to be real close. She and Rick, her husband, well … he’s got a good job, they have a nice house, Elinor seems to really like her teaching job, she dresses real pretty—she’s got everything. And sometimes…" Fran doesn’t finish the sentence.
 
She can almost hear Jesus saying to her, "And sometimes you compare yourself and feel like you got the short end of the
stick. Why should you be left alone to raise your kids by yourself and worry about money and have all the responsibility—right?"
 
"Right." Jesus always understands how Fran feels. She doesn’t have to go into lots of detail with him. He knows her better than she knows herself.
 
But then Fran thinks again about a lesson she has to continually re-learn, and that is that comparing herself to others is a dangerous habit. It always leads her into wrong thinking, causing her either to think she’s better than others or to be jealous and envious of others. 
 
“I know I have to break this wrong thinking pattern, and not compare myself to others," Fran says to the Lord. Tears start down her face. "You’ve shown me that before. But it’s hard when I see Elinor and wonder why she has it so easy…"
 
But Jesus reminds her that she’s looking at Elinor as though her life is totally uncomplicated and easier than hers, yet she hasn’t even talked with her lately. You never can tell from outward appearances just what problems may lurk beneath the surface.
 
And with that reminder, the kids rush into the kitchen for their breakfast, and Fran is busily occupied getting them off to school. 

 

Improving Your Relationships is a Bible Study written by Mary Whelchel that tackles our greatest challenges in relationships. These biblical principles you will learn from this study you will be able to apply to all of your relationships. To order call 630-462-0552 or go online to our bookstore at www.christianworkingwoman.org.
 
Our 25th Annual Weekend Getaway is April 19-21, 2013. Kay Arthur is our Special Guest Speaker. This will be an event you don’t want to miss. For more information call 630-462-0552 or go to our website at www.christianworkingwoman.org.