A sit down with Ms. Envy and the Green Monster

WARNING: This is a touchy subject and I'm trying to makie it as neutral among genders as possible...forgive me if I say "ladies" or "you girls" too much. I'm a bit biased:)

Let's start with an all too familiar conversation I heard between Ms. Envy and the Green Monster...

Envy: "So I saw that cute guy you had on your arm the other night...what's his name?"

Green Monster: "Oh his name is Fluff" (with a dreamy smile on her face she thinks, "I wonder why she wants to know his name...I bet she thought he was cute!")

Envy: "That's cool. You guys look good together...wish I had someone to spend the holidays with...I'm stuck with my 16 yr old cousin to attend the family reunion with me...again."

Later on we hear a conversation between Fluff and Green Monster. Let's call her Greenie for short.

Greenie: "Hey babe how was your day?" She says all too excitedly as she hops on to the stone couch beside him.

Fluff: "It was alright..."

Greenie: (She notices "the tone", the not-so-excited, "I can't tell what he's thinking so I'm going to flip out" tone) "Is everything ok??"

Fluff: (faintly smiles) "Yeah, I'm cool, just pretty tired after work."

Greenie: (spots the phone light up...a text...) "Hmmm...who's that?"

Fluff: "Oh it's my friend Jet! She's letting me know how her work meeting went. I asked her about it earlier today." (begins to reply...)

Greenie: (A million thoughts runnign through her head as she tries to remember if she has ever been introduced to this "Jet." Nope...none. And texting at 9pm??? How could he?!)"Wow she's texting you really late, I mean even I know not to text other guys this late...doesn't she have a boyfriend or something she can text about her meeting?"

Fluff: (Notices her defense and pats her on the arm) "Babe it's just a text, no big...I asked her about it. It was a pretty tough one." Smiles a sweet and genuine smile. "And I need to introduce you guys, she's dying to meet you! I've told her all about you!"

Greenie: "I'm sure you do! Well why don't you just go marry her since you're so excited about a stupid text!!" (Walks over to sink to dramtically get a drink of water and make sure her green face hasn't lost it's color. Goes to call Envy and tell her how she is jealous of her cousin-date to her family reunion and how she wishes her boyfriend would "understand.")




So maybe that was a little dramatic....you would think so, right? Sadly, I have seen this happen, believe it or not, MANY times. The big green monster is a fierce one...and it bites at both ends of the bait. Let's take a look at some awesome wisdom from James chapter 3. "For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind." (16). Plain and simple...jealousy does not belong in the hearts of those who seek the Lord. How can it? Jealousy has nothing to do with love, and in some cases of the Bible, it is considered to be hatred. You see, Greenie reacted in a defensive way to Fluff because she was jealous that he was asking about another girl and her day. But she probably does the same thing throughout her day without even paying attention to it. Some of you may be thinking this over or even rationalizing this reason for her anger. But here's a way to look at it: She didn't stop to consider Fluff was being a brother in Christ to his sister. A friend through what could have possibly been a rough day. Did he tell her he loved her and wanted to hold her and make everything feel better if the meeting went bad? No. He simply asked, "how did it go?" Greenie's jealousy could have stemmed from a hurt in the past, maybe she was cheated on, left to mend her own heart with Elmer's school glue and tape. But jealousy will never let that heart mend, it won't take away the insecurity or the pain at all. It JUST MAKES THINGS WORSE.

My conclusion about jealousy was learned from many past times of judging too qucikly and putting my foot in my mouth later. There is no point to having a jealous heart. It's like putting a cup on the table in the morning for breakfast and expecting some juice to fall into it by itslef. It never does and you are not filled with anything but hot air...and maybe a shoe string:) As people that are in a world that feeds on jealousy we have to be careful and know that we can trust in the Lord with our fragile and sometimes envious hearts and ALL of our desires. This lesson is so tough to learn and so accepted in our world. But the Bible clearly says to love. You cannot have them both in your heart.

"If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13. THis verse comes right before our command to do away with our jealous hearts. So shake off the green suit and smile at what is inside! A beautiful, extravagant and wonderfully made, you! God wants us to be humble and most of all, to be trusting. Let us live with a mindset of grace, humility and LOVE. Don't be a Greenie, be the wonderful creation of God you are called to be!

P.s. To all you "Fluff's" (whether you be man or woman) out there....your patience is much appreciated:)