The Luck 'O the Blessed?

Green clovers,
Green beer,
Green t-shirts,
Green river,
Green Kiss-Me-I'm-Irish sticker,
Green bow-tie,
Green, green, green.

All this green has got me thinking about another green: green with envy.  It doesn't take St. Patty's day to bring out the green in me.  Living here in the Land of Plenty, I find myself struck with the green disease way too frequently.

"My friends' houses are so much bigger than mine."
"Her wardrobe is amazing…and surely so expensive."
"They can afford so many extra curricular's for their kids."
"Wow, they are going on another vacation?"

…and all of these statements followed by feelings of, "I wish our family could have what their's has…"

I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say I'm probably not the only one who thinks like this from time to time.  I tend to compare my most meager possessions to others' largest ones.  I know that is not fair, and it isn't pleasing to God.

So this St. Patrick's Day, I am going to focus on less green and more thankfulness.   Maybe I can make this holiday good for something that really matters: a look at all my blessings.  I know I don't have my wonderful gifts from God because of mere LUCK. I have everything because of His love for me.  He knows what I need, when I need it.

So maybe we don't have a huge house...but I have three amazing children to cuddle in our little home.
So maybe I don't have those designer shoes...but I have children who are clothed in God's love.
So maybe we don't enroll in 10 different programs for our kids...but we have a church family that loves us unconditionally.
So maybe we can't go on that expensive vacation...but we have everlasting life waiting for us someday in Heaven.