When the kid wildness barometer in this house rises, my temperature rises too. Typically when this happens, I seep in self-pity and think about any numbers of hip-looking couples I know who have no children. Their lives must be so easy, carefree, cool, adventurous, and fun.  They take vacations to Europe, East Coast, etc.  The grass sure looks greener on their pasture.

But recently, I just found out that several of these childless couples have actually been struggling with infertility.  And then I realized that perhaps they look at my family of four little blessings and think that the grass is greener over here! Then it dawned on me that God gives each one a different and unique circumstance — and none of those are perfect on this side of eternity.  God simply puts different challenges in our different lives, because he knows our specific areas that need sanctifying!

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.  Arguably, it never is (though it seems to often seem so).  What’s more, our goal in life should not be to find “greener pastures,” but to receive gratefully that which God providentially puts in our path.  The trials God has given me are customized, tailored specifically for my sanctification. I may whine and complain, but these trials are for my own good (maybe to help me to learn not to whine and complain!).  Instead of looking for greener pastures, I pray that I might more often acknowledge these trials as the Lord’s kindness, through which He means to make me fit for heaven and Himself.