Measuring stick by Mary Folkerts

Social media has taken the game of “comparison” up a few notches or ten. We can now measure ourselves not only against people we know but against complete strangers! All in the comfort of our home as we scroll and admire all their accomplishments. (And feel just a tad sorry for ourselves and everything we have failed to accomplish). 

But in all seriousness, how easy it is to measure our successes and failures against someone else's life without knowing their full story. We see only a glimpse, and if we compare ourselves against them, our blessings and successes begin to feel tarnished around the edges. We were content until we pulled out the measuring stick.

Whenever people strive to hone a craft, be it writing, art, music or another passion, there will always be someone who can do it better. That is not a reason to give up because everyone has a starting point, and it takes work and practice to improve. If God has given us a desire and gift for something, we should pursue it. We may not reach the masses, but if we bless one heart, we have been successful. 

Not all things are taught in Kindergarten. 

Some come natural, 

ingrained, 

printed into the fabric

of the tiny soul. 

It appears we are born 

with a measuring stick 

in our back pocket. 

Johnny's lunch is better than mine

Suzie has a prettier dress

my colouring is in the lines,

hers isn’t. 

Measure, 

Measure,

Measure, 

all day long — theirs against mine.

Did my mother not teach me?

Did my Sunday school teacher

not warn me?

Oh yes, but the lie is large

and the satisfaction 

gratifying 

when the evidence is in

my favour. 

But the balance is capricious, 

and I am Eve, 

scrambling after the early

apple of deceit, 

for the knowledge-–

my own kind of affirmation 

that tells me 

I am worthy. 

When I don’t trust 

my Maker’s words that 

declare, “It is good!”

I search constant confirmation

from sources as fallible as I--

that I am not behind,

that I am as good as,

that what I create matters,

that I am not redundant, 

that what I do 

matters.

The way of freedom

says, bury your tools 

of evaluation, gauging,

comparing one against 

the other. 

Only discontent and 

dissatisfaction comes 

with this deception 

which claims that my worth 

is measurable. 

Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a Proverbs 31 ministries COMPEL Writers Training member and is involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s personal blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the small things https://maryfolkerts.com/