I want you to imagine that you, or should I say your life represents grass. We’ve all heard the saying that the grass is not always greener on the other side. This statement is to show the reality that things are not always as good as they seem. It also encourages us not to compare ourselves or our lives to someone else because we have no idea what goes on behind the scenes. In light of this saying, I want us to adopt a new saying. “The grass is not always greener, sometimes it gets brown. That’s what makes it real.”
I believe two of the biggest mistakes that we can make in this life is:
- Refusing to be real with ourselves, others, & God.
- Constantly comparing ourselves and our lives to others.
We live in a world that thrives off of fakeness and thrives off of projecting false images. From TV, social media and everyday life, many people want to portray their “best selves” and “highlight reels.” If we’re honest, there is a spoken and unspoken pressure to project a certain image all the time. That image being… “Oh look! I have it all together. My life is absolutely perfect and amazing! Look at my awesome vacation! Look at my beautiful family! Look I’m sooo happy all the time! Blah Blah Blah..” But you and I both know, this is furthest from reality!
The truth about grass is…IT IS REAL! I mean really REAL! Which means it is living. Which means, it goes through periods where its green color isn’t always present or thriving. Real grass goes through seasons. Sometimes, it will experience a scorching hot summer, where it gets completely dried out and brown holes are noted throughout it. In another season, real grass can experience a tough winter, where it freezes over. In another season, it can go through extreme rain pours and storms, where it becomes drenched in water and mud. Then, there can be a season where it is thriving and growing in its greenery. But the truth of the matter is, NO REAL GRASS is green ALL of the time.
I want you to choose to be REAL GRASS! Not that fake turf stuff! If we’re honest, some of us will literally break our backs trying to make sure our grass always looks green. We will go to extreme and ridiculous extents, like buying green spray paint to present a fake allusion of greenery. My encouragement to you and myself is this: STOP TRYING TO COVER. Embrace the reality of where you are in life and the season God has you in. Whatever stage your grass is in right now is your current reality. If you have some brown patches, OWN IT. If you have some weeds, ACKNOWLEDGE IT. If you have some dead areas, DON’T IGNORE IT. If your environment is harsh right now and making it difficult for your grass to grow, BE HONEST ABOUT IT. No grass is green ALL the time or perfect. If it is, then it’s not real grass.
God has not called us to be perfect or pretend to be perfect. He has called us to be real, honest, and living in the roots and waters of HIM. Do not compare your grass to your neighbors. You are not responsible for anyone else’s grass but your own. The key is remembering this: Real, living-grass takes consistent work and effort to grow. And this my friend is not an overnight process. IT IS A CONTINUAL PROCESS. So, my encouragement to you is to put in the work! NO matter how hard or no matter how difficult, keep working on your grass. Life is not about making sure your grass is green all the time, but that your grass stays healthy, living, and has the ability to endure all seasons of life.
Allow the living water of God and His eternal nutrients (The Word) to continue to be used on the grass of your life. God is the Father of the living, not the dead. If you allow Him to be the tiller of your grass, you will thrive and grow just as you should and ultimately endure eternally with Him. Remember, the grass is not always greener, sometimes it gets brown. That’s what makes it real.
“For all people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”-1 Peter 1:24
With love,
Ashley Moneet
Fearless.Faithful.Following
4 Responses
How this Spoke to me
1.) I have been living in a city that I often wonder if I am happy there or if I want to move back to Texas. All my friends from college look extremely happy in Texas (I’m honestly basing this perception/assumption from social media). What this anecdote has revealed to me is that no matter where I live, I need to water the grass that I am currently occupying. I need to engage and accept the city, job, and overall season I am currently in by allowing God to lead me but show me the beauty, glory, and growth He is trying to instill within me by staying a true steward of his word and utilizing my faith to force his hand in my life. In other words, I need to water and nurture my grass and have more of a positive mindset and attitude about this current season in my life. If I trust him, He will direct my life where He wants it to be but only on his time and his terms whether that means I stay in the current city I am in or move to another.
2.) I need to start using my trials and tribulations as testimonies or forms of encouragement on social media. I believe that people try to portray perfectness or living their best life on social media so they can ultimately keep up with everyone else (as this anecdote stated) as well as cover up their own insecurities by trying to highlight their “peaks” in their own lives. There is nothing wrong with trying to encourage yourself but to have this “let everyone else see this” drive what you post so you can get a certain number of likes is unhealthy. We must find our peace and contentment within God and not others (but this is a story for another day). My point is that we should share our “valleys” on social media but also show how God bought us through these valleys as he continues to grow us and teach us. Let’s start showing when the grass is brown, frozen, watery, or muddy as it eventually leads to green.
A WORD! Powerful.
Thank you, I needed this.
It’s okay if my grass is brown for a season! That’s how you know it’s real. Come onnn!
I’m Literally going to quote you. Lol
Haha girl you are so silly! Thank you boo for reading! Stay encouraged and remember that your grass is beautiful because it’s being made and constantly renewed by God.
You preaching or nah!? Haha No but seriously James, thank you so much for sharing your heart. I appreciate your honesty and your realness. You are so right! Sometimes we can get caught up in looking and comparing our lives, that we miss the blessing in others lives. And yes, why we post things on social media is important. It shouldn’t be about getting attention but about helping others or glorifying God.
Thank you again Josh for your written words. I appreciate you! Stay encouraged and keep living your best life! You encourage more people than you realize!