"Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?"
Matthew 20:15
Of course, whenever I read this reading, I think of my little friend, Helen. She was a late-comer to the field and yet is enjoying her full day's pay now in heaven. Bless you, Helen, please pray for me! But this time reading it, I had other thoughts. Why is it so hard for us to celebrate the good fortune of others? Why is it hard to acknowledge the great gifts of others if they seem to threaten us and our little gifts? Maybe they bring out our insecurities a bit? When someone young and zealous comes along at our work, for example, and has fresh, new ideas and a better grasp of technology; why can't we rejoice and be glad in that? Why do we see it as a threat to ourselves and our own cozy little position? It is easier to down-play the gifts of others instead of stepping up ourselves, isn't it? We really need to see that God gifts all of us; we all have unique and exciting talents. But when the gifts of others seem to bring out our insecurities, there is a problem. Lord, help me to rejoice in the gifts of others and celebrate that all are given talents. Our goal should be, not to measure our gifts against those of others, but to rejoice in You and your great generosity! Love, heidi
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