The Grass is Not Always Greener
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
