God, let me not compare myself to anyone else in anything, because you do not compare me to anyone else here on earth.
Scribe Lady, A Prayer for Today, on Country Ripples
One of my favorite kid’s movies to watch this time of year is, Spookley: The Square Pumpkin. Being square in shape makes him a prime target for harassment by the other pumpkins, who are round. Thankfully, a quirky scarecrow and his two bat sidekicks help Spookley realize his uniqueness is actually a strength.
Why is it so easy to compare ourselves with others, and so hard not too? We know what Paul said, speaking of his detractors in Corinth, “They make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and they judge themselves by their own standards!” – 2 Corinthians 10:2 (GNT) Can you relate? As a touchy-feely, sensitive artist type, at times I’ve felt like a square pumpkin in a patch full of spherical smarty pants.
This is why I find Scribelady’s quote so affirming. God isn’t grading you or me against anyone, or anything but His own plan for our lives! (Ephesians 2:10) I remember once at a youth meeting a pastor held up several pieces of chalk. Some were long, some were short, and some were in between. He said, “This is how we see each other.” Then he turned his hand so we could only see the tops of the chalk. “This is how God sees us.”
So who’s to say, but the Lord Himself, if one person’s “pumpkin” is better than another’s?
God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (GNT)
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
45 responses to “Comparing Pumpkins”
God’s standards must be our priority. Amen, Dawn. Thank you for sharing. Blessings!
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Thank you David. This is a great message. Comparing ourselves to one another is useless. God loves us all and has a unique plan for each of our lives. Unfortunately, the world has created standards that we get caught up trying to follow, but instead we have to make God’s standards our priority. ❤️🤗
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That’s how I feel too, Tina. I am definitely a work in progress. Thank you for reading and commenting. Blessings!
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I do like this post very much. It’s sort of a ‘keep your eyes on your own journey and relationship with Jesus’ reminder. Yep, we were created for different jobs and purposes. Different uses.
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?” Romans 9:21
Some of us might still be lumps of clay. Or just lumps. 😂🤣😂🤣 I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be yet. God’s working on it.
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Thank you for your honesty, in keeping it real, booferchick. It’s hard NOT to fall into the comparison trap. This is why I raise an eyebrow when someone tells me, “I don’t care what anybody thinks!” The key is to find a happy medium—not pretend like comparison doesn’t exist. Blessings!
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You know, I think this is why I’ve been feeling a sense of discontentment lately. I’m stuck comparing myself, and am no longer happy where I’m at. Thank you for this post, I love the chalk analogy!
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Thanks, Beth. I love Scribelady too! She has her own unique way of pointing to God with her writing. Blessings!
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David, I love how you opened with Scribe Lady’s prayer. I thoroughly enjoy her blog. This would make a wonderful Sunday school lesson.
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You’re welcome, brother! Blessings!
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Manette Kay, I greatly appreciate your kind and thoughtful input. Comparison can indeed be a sin—especially when it turns to envy. Your pastor’s rhyme is a good one to remember! How he described the futility of compariSIN reminds me of a quote by the Roman philosopher, Seneca:
“He who can injure you is with stronger than you or weaker. If weaker, spare him. If stronger, spare yourself.”
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
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A very important message we all need to hear often! Thank you David.
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A pastor once taught us that comparing ourselves to others is a sin.
When we compare ourselves to those we think are better than us, it generates low self-worth thus devaluing God’s creation of (our unique) self. When we compare ourselves to those we think are not as good as us, its generates haughty pride–an offense to God.
The preacher had everyone repeat a little rhyme several times, “There is no win in compariSIN.” He had us phonetically enunciate the final syllable to emphasize the point and help us remember the lesson.
Spookley: The Square Pumpkin is something I’m going to check into for the grandchildren. Thanks for your light-hearted devotionals. You manage to wrap up great lessons in a sweet package. Like Sweet-Tarts are a favorite candy, your devotionals are a favorite treat too.
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Thank you, Mandy! I enjoyed your post on Alan Kearn’s blog from Psalm 27. Blessings!
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This is a great post! Thanks, David!
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Truth. We will never measure up to Christ without the Holy Spirit’s help. Thank you for your input, Matt!
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Thank you, Gary. I’m not a super competitive person, so it’s nice to hear the perspective of someone who is—or was. Blessings!
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The only person we should compare ourselves to is Jesus which will cause us to seek his help
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I grew up always comparing (a weakness of the highly competitive). Even after a bad accident which put me in last place in sports for several years I compared and fell short. The comparison world is a dead end and the maze of life is never figured out. Good post.
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I didn’t even catch that their name are almost alike. But that’s where the similarity stops. Though seeing a square cat on Halloween would definitely be spooky.
Thank you for the 💯, Mrs. Byers. 😍
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I’m not familiar with Spookley, not to be confused with Spooky, but I love a good summary complete with theme. My seniors are working on this. 💯
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Haha! Sounds like an intense action packed flick!
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Thank you for tying in an excellent thought from Exodus. Not wanting what someone else has is one of the Ten Commandments. I hadn’t even thought of that. Bridget, your comments are often like posts in themselves! I appreciate your thoughts.
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Such a powerful post, David! I have not seen that movie, but it sounds like a good one. I am reminded of Exodus 20:17 where we are told to not covet. And isn’t that what we do at times when we look at someone else’s life with envy? I pray we all can learn to be thankful for the uniqueness that God has given each of us. Thanks for this encouraging post!
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A bad rain and wind storm hits the farm, blowing all the round pumpkins dangerously close to a raging river. Square Spookley, who doesn’t roll so easily, saves everyone from a trip down the rapids. Yes, the movie was originally a book. Thanks, Pete!
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Great post Dave but I am dying to learn how your square pumpkin friend came out on top! This has got to be one of your books from school. I’ve always been a Frog and Toad story fan and find myself reading them even when the grandkids aren’t around!
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Thank you, Lisa.
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Love it! Spot on.🎃
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Thanks, Betty! I hope you and Dan have a wonderful Saturday as well.
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👍
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David, while I only know you on WordPress, I sense a kind person who does his best to be a Christian and to help others. The working world can be tough – they don’t call it the rat race for nothing! And yes, you are right – labels do stink! Hope you have a great Saturday!
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Excellent point, Jeff. I love Desiderata! I’m going to find my copy and read it again today. Your comment reminds me of something one of my running coaches told me—when I was training for my first marathon. “There will always be someone faster and someone slower than you. So run, and enjoy, your own race.” Thank you, and blessings to you as well!
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Amen, Betty! I agree with you wholeheartedly. Yet sometimes I do struggle with what others think of me. In fact, in my job I’ve been twice called a “pleaser.” Taken in context, this was not a term of endearment. Labels stink!
On a lighter note, it’s clear to me that you are most certainly your own person—comfortable in your skin. And this is inspiring.❤️
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I’m reminded of a quote from Desiderata – If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements …
Blessings, brother!
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God doesn’t make mistakes. We all have different gifts and are designed to contribute, each in our own way, to the glory of God. I did care about “fitting in” when I was younger. Not anymore. I am sure I am a misshapen, multi-colored, bumpy pumpkin, and I’m fine with that!
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❤️❤️❤️
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I am the broken chalk & the square pumpkin…I’m good with that!
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Agreed, Manu. It’s not the easiest thing to hold God’s opinion above all others. But it is important that we do so. Thank you for reading and commenting. Blessings!
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Comparison robs one of contentment. It is a journey to not let other opinions matter. It is God’s opinion that we should ideally bother about but it is not the easiest thing to get to a place where that is the case.
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I like your pastor quote! You’re welcome. Thank YOU for stopping by!
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Great words. A pastor of mine once said comparison brings the death of contentment. Thanks for your encouragement today.
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🙂
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You make a good point here, Andy. The quickest way to become an expert in something is to do it a lot. The ground is indeed a solid place for getting up.
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you get knocked to the ground often enough, and you come to realise the ground is a pretty solid place to get up from 😉 because it is the rock on which we stand (that takes on a different meaning with a few experiences meeting it up close)
i’m not making light of it – just that you get good at getting up, the more practice you have.
to put it another way, we’ve moved house WAY TOO MANY TIMES in the past [nearly] 25 years of marriage. we’re now experts at it – but we’d prefer not to be so very experienced at it, but we’d be daft if we didn’t use that expertise and experience (we’ll be moving again come the New Year)
and by ‘expert’ I mean WAY north of 10 moves in 25 years – not by choice, just by living for Jesus 🙂 and 6 of those are within 5 years of each other…………….it’s all good though, ‘cos God always gives us the money we need to do so, which we never have ourselves – we’re in the 5th home in a row that we could hot have humanly afforded, but God always meets the needs we have…just not necessarily ahead of time as I’d prefer
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Thank you, Andy. I need some more of your confidence—not to care what others think. Blessings to you and the Berry Bunch!
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love that chalk analogy!
and yes we, too, sometimes wonder which shape of hole we were supposed to fit in – but now i no longer care.
we don’t fit, and i’m ok with that – because I’m ok with standing out as different from the rest of those ‘spherical smarty pants’
andy b
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