March
2007
Covet
By Barbara
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s . . . The last of the Ten Commandments, it s in no way the least of the commandments. So hard to obey – but it so very important.
I am delighted to tell you all that my oldest daughter’s writing has been selected twice recently. The first time was for a Writers Night competition. The second time was for a highly acclaimed college publication.
Interestingly, my offered work was not selected either time. Interestingly, I had to literally force her to enter the first (all entrants to the first were entered into the second – something we didn’t know until today.) In fact, I hand delivered her entry to that competition.
All together now – what a good mama!
Not so fast my friends. As dearly as I love my daughter – and as proud of her as I am – and for as smitten as I am with her writing – there has been just that tiniest, niggling, bone of jealousy. (and me with blue eyes, not green)
Why was her writing better than mine? Why her writing chosen when mine was was not? Why?
Pretty juvenile, isn’t it? Sounds like sibling rivalry. Almost.
What it really is – is sin. It is coveteousness. And it is offensive to my Lord.
I have congratulated her – and I have done it sincerely. I will likely purchase a couple of extra copies of the publication when it is printed.
All that aside, I need to ask my Lord for forgiveness and pray that I can be a bit more like Him the next time she and I enter such a contest – and she is recognized and I am not. You see – that is likely to happen more and more as she grows in her craft. She is an accomplished writer and I am thankful for her gift
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Written By: barbara
Posted under: On Being a Parent, Women's Voices . 
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Hey Barbara, I haven’t had reason to be jealous of my daughter yet–though I’m sure that day is coming. But I totally understand the whole jealousy thing when it comes to my writing. The weird thing is, it never bothered me too much until AFTER I was published. You would think it would have been the other way around.
exactly, Meredith. I think that is why it snuck up on me and surprised me as it did - as I recognized it as sin.
I have SUCH a long way to go as God’s daughter.
>..
Barbara:
I know what you mean. My daughter got an interniship this past summer at a local weekly newspaper. Within the week she had her first feature article published on the front page! Then she went on to write a series, and now has a column. She’s 17!
After I got over the shock, I realized, isn’t that what we worked, prayed, sacrificed, and longed for? That our children accomplish greater things than us. That they stand on our shoulders and see farther, deeper, even impact the world.
I stand with you proud of my daughter, excited to see what God has in store for her.