contentment

My friend once told me about the story of The Elephant versus The Dog. The elephant and the dog got pregnant at the same time. Elephants have a gestation period of 22 months where it gives birth to one baby elephant. While the dog has a gestation period of about 2- 3months and gives birth to five or six puppies. So, after three months the dog gave birth to six puppies while the Elephant was still pregnant. The dog got pregnant again and with the same pattern the dog gave birth after three months to another six puppies.

While the 18th month of the Elephant’s pregnancy kicked in the dog questions the elephant if it is actually pregnant and this makes the elephant insecure and starts questioning itself as well. However, the elephant is reminded that what it’s carrying is an elephant and not a puppy, hence it only carries one in two years. Once the baby elephant is born the earth feels it. It is a mighty and great animal that walks the earth.

One of the main morals of this story is that we should not lose faith when we see others receive answers to their prayers before us. Moreover, we should not compare our blessings to other people’s blessings. Being envious of what others have doesn’t take us anywhere. We should practice contentment and hold on to the fact that our time is coming.

With the rise in digitization and a wide variety of social media platforms, it is now so easy to connect with long-lost friends and even space to make new ones. However, with platforms like Instagram and Facebook where people show beautifully curated images of how amazing their lives are, it’s so easy for us to compare our current lives with those we see online. Several thoughts that run through my mind each day are:

“Wow look, she’s my age and she have a beautiful house of her own”

“Look he’s running his own business and is soon moving out of his parent’s house!”

“I wonder when I’ll be earning six figure salaries like she already is”

These are just a few examples of the toxic thoughts that race through my mind from time to time. A lot of us may be envious or even jealous of our peers, just because our lives are not lined up as seamlessly as theirs appear to be. This form of envy and jealousy often leads us to wish negatively upon our friends or even our family. Just so that we can feel better about the stage of life we are in.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy”. For me, the comparison was always something that I deeply struggled with. Whether it was consciously or subconsciously. I always asked God how is it that ‘so and so’ can get this and do this and in turn, I was always angry when speaking to God. I felt like life was unfair. I was confused as to why I hadn’t gotten my big break yet, just like everyone else. Bible plan after plan I still wasn’t getting it.

We must remember to provide pure genuine congratulations without trying to tear each other down. Contentment is the only antidote to the comparison. Instead of being envious or jealous, we need to be thankful and not try to dim anyone else. Similarly, to the Elephant story, we should be patient and content. God knows what he is doing, no need for us to try and take control of the situation or place negative wishes upon others.

Some verses that have helped to keep me from falling into comparison are:

We are told in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The Lord knows each and every one of us by name. He knows exactly what we desire, therefore we should put our trust in him and know that he always fulfills his promises.

Also, in Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Instead of trying to match up to everyone else, we should place our focus on God and his teachings. Instead of living like the world, we should live as Jesus taught us. The Lord will grant his promises he always does, but our focus should not be on materialistic things but on the mercy and the grace that he has shown us, and on the teachings he provided. 

It’s not up to us to dictate our lives, the Lord gave us life and we should live according to our purpose. We all have a different purpose in life; therefore stop comparing yourself with others as it doesn’t make sense. We are called to trust in God and be thankful for all that he has provided us with.

Thandiwe Mutua.