I don’t know what a person’s soul looks like, but I do believe there is no one-size-fits-all version.
And yet … and yet, there have been times I’ve treated my soul like a ready-to-wear garment found in a store. I like what I have, until I see what someone else has … and I think, “Hmmmm, I like that style a little better than what I have. Maybe I should see if I can exchange this.”
Souls are not exchangeable.
Souls are invaluable. Eternal.
Measuring my life against someone else’s diminishes my worth — and let’s just be honest here, I’m often over-inflating the value of someone else’s life. I’m too hard on myself and too easy on someone else. I don’t know their reality and my perspective on my life is skewed.
You want to use a yardstick? Measure whether a bookcase fits in your office. Don’t measure life against life. Don’t measure something eternal, like your soul.
In Others’ Words: What helps you see your value — and see the value in someone else?
In Others' Words: Don't Beat Up Your Soul http://bit.ly/2vdrfNp #quote #identity Click To Tweet 'Pick up a yardstick to measure your life against anyone else's, and you've just picked up a stick and beaten up your own soul.' http://bit.ly/2vdrfNp @AnnVoskamp Click To Tweet
Comments 4
I can only offer a musical comment, courtesy Marc Cohn.
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I always enjoy your musical replies, Andrew.
looking at the photos of my boys…it’s not that motherhood defines me…I’ve raised some pretty fantastic boys. It reminds me I have so much for which to be grateful.
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Denise:
Photographs are wonderful reminders, aren’t they?