Are You Threatened?

https://www.someecards.com/life/holidays/thanksgiving-pinterest-fails/

http://lifeasmama.com/10-spectacular-pinterest-fails/
Before you wiz on over to pinterest and get distracted, stay with me for the article.

Are you threatened?
As women, we compare ourselves with ourselves. Joey’s told me, “Women don’t dress for their husbands, they dress for other women.” And it’s true.

Do you look on Pinterest and think, “This should be easy enough for me to do”? And then do it, but it ends in disaster? I pin those humor contrasts. They're hilarious on Pinterest; they aren’t when I do it. How could I mess up something so easy?

My daughter-in-law makes beautiful sugar cookies for her girls to decorate. Even after the girls pile on inches of icing (they are 4 and 1 years old), they look gorgeous. Me? I can make round or square cookies, but only on a good day. I’ve sent her all my cookies forms, I won’t try anymore. Hers will look wonderful.

Early in our marriage, Joey told me he made Marie Calendar pies (all 500 of them for Thanksgiving.) I remember growing up, making my patch-work pie crusts. Making pies was an exercise in frustration for me. I didn’t make them again until we were married 25 years. Mine wouldn’t hold up to Marie Calendar’s (even though my husband never said anything, but "this is good.") But the boys requested them.
I was hesitant to make salsa because my mother-in-law’s salsa is the “best” by everyone's standard. Until my son asked for her recipe. He said he'd try to make it. I guess, salsa is that important to have, even if it isn't the "best" every time.

One woman told how her husband said, “My sister makes the best cookies.” So, his wife let her sister-in-law continue to make him cookies and she (his wife) wouldn't.

I told my husband I shouldn’t visit people. Why? Because I saw what they had and how they decorated and felt insecure, discontent, and frustrated with what I could do.

And my meals...look like a throw together mess, even when I try to make them special.

As I matured, or maybe as I ran out of energy, I realized I needed to be content with who I was—clutzy craft person that I am. Or on what I could invest…maybe my money's spent on the boys’ needs, but couldn’t I have nice decorations for my table too?

Do I accept defeat?
Guilt would hound me. My boys need some culture. They shouldn’t always have to serve their meals out of a pan (even though practically who needs another dish to wash and doesn’t everyone want their mashed potatoes hot?)

I’m again inspired by looking for cheap ideas for Thanksgiving decorations, (but not cheap looking,) that will encourage my family and remind me, we have much to give thanks for.

I pin the classic, fancy decorations for inspiration, but gravitate to the dollar store or even scavenger-in-the-yard kind, because I’ve spent my grocery money again on food and it’s about time to fork out the $300+ on underwear and socks for the boys’ Christmas gifts. And they need t-shirts and work gloves, and jeans and…so never mind the decorations for Thanksgiving. Who needs them anyway?

Yet when I see a beautifully arranged centerpiece, I do pause to appreciate the beauty God has given.

Am I to give up when others do things better?

God gives the answer. When John asked how others would serve him. Jesus told him in so many words, “Mind your own business.” Really He said, “What is that to you?” John 21:22

Threatened by another’s abilities? Feeling insecure by what you can’t do?

Just do what God tells you to do, today.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Click on book cover for details.

Tell of My Kingdom's Glory
Three Book Series

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
Dear Faithful and Loyal Readers
Life Falling Apart? Try Gratitude
A Few Words about Marriage
When Suffering Gets Personal
What an Amazing God We Serve
Response to Healthy Gaming
How Miserable Are You? Are You Happy?
The Need for Meaning Even in Pain
Reminders of What's Important
God's Unmeasurable Love
A Quarter of a Century Spent for Our Country
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
The Ripple Effect
How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
  (reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
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Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass
Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?
See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 

under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
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Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
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Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2