Verse of the Day

As many of you know I have a daily calendar on my (and my sister's) work desk that is by Anita Renfroe. I am usually inspired by what she has to say because it's so real. Today wasn't any thought of hers but simply a verse that hit me right between the eyes. It comes from Galatians 6:4-5 and it says...

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct." (NLT)

I seriously almost fell off my chair. I struggle with this so much (especially at work). It hit me so hard that when I got home tonight I looked it up for myself and in other translations. Here are some of the other translations...

"Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load." (NIV)

"Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life." (Message)

"But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor. For every person will have to bear (be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [little] load [of oppressive faults]." (Amplified)

So no matter what version I looked up the message God was telling me was the same. STOP worrying about everyone else and what they are doing or how they are doing it. I only need to focus on my own work because that is all that I am responsible for.

I think this could go for not only me (and ALL my issues) but as moms. Many times we focus on how our husband is doing, how our sitter is doing (which to a point we need to consider this), how our children are doing, etc., etc. Let's all take a deep breathe and relax and focus on only what we are doing at hand.