I have two children. I love them immeasurably.

I want to give good things to them.

But they have an inherent behavior pattern that really gets in the way.

It doesn’t matter what it is that I give to one of them, the other will instantly become jealous.

“No, I want the blue one!”

“Why does HE get that? I want that!”

“How come I NEVER get …??!”

Again, it doesn’t matter what it is. It could be something that my daughter normally wouldn’t care for, but since her brother got it, she necessarily must feel left out.

Or vice-versa.

Yeah? I’m sure you know what I’m talking about here.

Surprisingly, this little peccadillo likes to cling on through adulthood.

It might become a little less whiny, and perhaps a bit more sophisticated in its presentation, but it’s still there.

God, why do THEY get to have that?

How come I haven’t gotten a raise?

They have … and I want…

In fact, my brother recently told me a statistic that for most people, their level of happiness has almost NOTHING to do with what they have and entirely to do with what they see that OTHERS have.

Think about that.

You could have the exact same life/job/material possessions that you have right now, and if we plucked the whole thing up and dropped it in a community that had less, you’d feel happier and more content.

Plop it in a neighborhood where other people had more, and you’d be less happy or content.

Our stuff doesn’t matter.

It’s our hearts.

So, what’s the solution?

REJOICE! BE GLAD! GIVE THANKS!

Not just for all of the amazing blessings in your own life – but whenever you see someone ELSE being blessed!

When they get the job or raise instead of you, REJOICE for them!

Say, “Thank you, God, for the blessings you’ve given them! Give them even more!”

Not only will this set you free from that childish attitude, but it will free your Heavenly Father to bless you, too.

After all, if my children didn’t default to envy every time I gave one of them something – they’d BOTH be getting a lot more blessings from me.