Family

A new family moved in across the street this summer. They have two boys. Big Brother and Little Brother. I can relate. I was Little Brother. One rainy day, I saw Big Brother and Little Brother out front. Playing in the puddle in the driveway. "Isn't that cute," I thought to myself. "We worry so much about kids these days. Kids these days being glued to phone and TV screens. Here are these brothers. Out playing in the rain. Just like the good old days!" They had a toy plastic shovel. That was the problem. One shovel. Two brothers. Soon, each brother is pulling on opposite ends of the shovel. Big Brother wins the tug-of-war. He pulls the shovel out of Little Brother's hands. Little Brother goes off to cry. Frustrated at losing the tug-of-war. I said to myself, "Yup! Just like the good old days!" I was Little Brother. Big Brother usually won our tug-of-wars. Darn him! Our Gospel reading this week is about how God, the Owner, invites us into One Family. Isn't that nice?! Just like two brothers. Out playing in the rain. In the Gospel reading, different members of The One Family start comparing themselves to each other. Not that that happens in our church Family. Except, every day. In the Gospel reading, different members get jealous of others. Jealous when they think others get a better deal. Not that that happens in our church Family. Except, every day. I'm always comparing myself to others. Frequently I'm jealous of those I think got a better deal. I've been in the hospital five times this year. "Why can't I be like him? He's older than I am! Yet he's still going 60 miles an hour?! Why can't I be like him" When I'm jealous, I think of Family. Family-Cain and Abel. In the first book of the Bible-Genesis. Cain is jealous of Abel. God says to Cain, "If YOU do well, will YOU not be accepted?" In other words, God calls me to be me. God doesn't call me to be my Brother. The other that I'm jealous of. I could do without my five trips to the hospital this year. Hopefully, that's it for me and hospitals. For a long, long time!! And God calls me to be me. I can spend time, being jealous of my Brother who's older ,yet seems better, health-wise. In the Bible, Cain doesn't listen to God's call. God's call to get Cain's focus off his jealousy. Get his focus back on what God calls him to do. Cain doesn't listen. Cain's jealousy leads him to murder. I wouldn't murder. I'd just waste more time and energy, being jealous of those I think got it better. God is still saying to me, "If YOU do well, will YOU not be accepted?" God calls me, to be me. For today, I will pray to seek what God wants ME to do, today. For today, I will pray to mind my own business. For today, when the guy pulls up next to me at the stoplight, and he's got a snazzy red sports car, I will feel jealous. Hopefully, I will also pray, "Thank You, God, that we are Yours!"