We’ve heard the saying, “The grass is greener on the other side.” But, then I ask, did you water the grass before you went to the other side?

We as humans tend to want to move on to the next best thing. When we’ve gotten used to a thing or feel we’ve gotten what we need from someone, we can desire to throw that thing or that person away and move onto the next best thing. But just like anything in life, we get out what we put in. So, if we don’t cultivate what we have, and when it’s not performing to our liking we toss it. Easy right?

People toss people they don’t think they need, people toss their marriage, companies toss employees, and children don’t always take care of what they’ve been given- why? Because we think these things are expendable and we can always get something or someone better.

From a young age my parents pressed upon me the importance of taking care of my toys, and as I got older they pressed upon my the importance of taking care of relationships. They gave me responsibility and held me accountable to nurture what I had been given. And they still do it today. If I want to move onto something else my parents will put me in a headlock of constructive criticism logic, holding me accountable to water the grass I have instead of trying to find new grass to graze upon.

But this “grass is greener” idea is a syndrome. This syndrome can leave one unfulfilled, and it’s one that is rooted in selfishness. Oftentimes God is looking for us to nurture and cultivate what He has given us and in turn He will grow that marriage, that employee, that person you don’t think you need, etc. to where it turns out that person or thing may be the best thing that ever happened to you. But you gotta water it. You gotta work with it- do some repetition. You gotta realize people aren’t perfect but don’t give up on them. You can’t have your cake and eat it too- you have to compromise. You gotta stick with it- don’t run away.

Happy Friday!