“We are better than those people”  Famous words (at least in my family) of my grandmother Elizabeth . . . my mom’s mom.

My mother’s early life was lived in Kentucky as a “Southern Belle”.  They attended church whenever the doors were open and went to parties and events, carrying their special shoes in a silk slipper bag.  Her family had a tobacco plantation ad her daddy was a miller . . . he ran a grain mill for the area.  Life was living a fairy tale in the south!

Enter . . . the Great Depression.  Mom’s family lost everything they moved west to central Kansas.  What a culture shock!  I suspect this is where the phrase “We are better than those people” came from.  While I am not sure I suspect that it could have been born after mom endured some teasing and ridicule for being so different from her new Kansan neighbors and talked funny to boot.  I can jus picture my grandmother Elizabeth telling my mom, “That’s alright honey, we’re better than those people.”  To calm her insecurities.

We grew up with that same phrase when dealing with peer pressure growing up or in many other situations.  Consequently, that mindset became one which played in the background of my mind through many years of my life.

In dealing with my life, my challenges and unbecoming personality traits, I have learned that I have to deal with myself differently than others deal with themselves . . . how I discipline myself . . . what I eat or drink . . . how much sleep I require . . . how I submit my life (when I do) to God . . . how I live my life more by the ways of God than some more worldly folks.

My old mindset told me this was because “we’re better than those people”.  But God has truly spoken to me on this subject and he told me that I don’t have to be better than others in order to follow him . . . I just have to be different.   This puts me on a more level playing field with others and tempers my pride issues but . . . still sets me apart.

This morning in reading my devotional “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young I read this scripture:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways” Says the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts

ISAIAH 55:8-9 (NKJV)

I think the moral to my story is that we all need to be tuned in to God . . . His ways . . . His thoughts.  As we seek to conform our thoughts to be more and more like His . . . I believe this is where peace and contentment reside.

We don’t have to be better . . . just different!

Amen and Amen!

Thank you for reading!

Pat

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