The grass was always greener in our enclosed backyard than it was anywhere else on our property.

There were several holes that had been dug (by our dogs) and refilled (by my brother and me), ad infinitum, so the entire backyard wasn’t grass. But what grass was there was certainly green. 

The reason it was so green was because it had been fertilized well and regularly by its primary occupants, our two canines. They were not house-dogs, and even if they were, they would have been let outside to “do their business,” and the results for the grass would likely have been the same.

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” is an English proverb that has been around so long it’s doubtful where it originated. It’s intended to express the feeling that other people’s situations, blessings, etc. often appear much better than our own. 

Many people have taken the proverb and altered the part after “The grass is always greener …” over the years, to such sentiments as: “… where you water it;” “… in the neighbor’s yard;” or (as in Erma Bombeck’s famous play) “… over the Septic Tank.”

The dangers of thinking that someone else always has it better than you are several. It creates a feeling of discontent that can easily take root and sprout as quickly as that grass seems to grow. That discontentment leads to envy that desires what someone else has for ourselves. It spreads to not only want something LIKE what they have, but for us to have it instead of them having it. It leads to hatred of the person/people, their position, power, blessings, etc. It focuses all our thoughts and energies on them. 

Just like self-centered thinking is dangerous and wrong, so is a wrong focus on others. We should be thinking “rightly,” not with a warped mindset of reality. The focus on others removes our focus from where it should be — a right view of both ourselves and them.

Focus on others also removes our sight from the God who created us and provides every good thing we need. It convinces us that God has given them things unfairly, and that He has not blessed us in equal (or “like”) measure. 

Doesn’t a kind, loving, and truly good parent try to give his or her children what they need, as well as some things they don’t really need, but would enjoy?

I think vegetables, lean meats, and cheeses are healthy and delicious. But I will not share certain vegetables or meats with my niece, my nephew, my daughter-in-law, or my daughter. Is it because I don’t love them, or jealously want to keep those things for myself? No … it’s because each of them has an allergy (some severe) or a strong aversion to certain foods. It is precisely because I love them that I don’t give them those things, and try to make sure they are not exposed to them. 

It’s not a great example, but could it be that our God (Father) who loves us, is kind, and truly good, gives to each of us what each us needs and keeps other things from us? Maybe He doesn’t give us certain things because they will harm us — physically, mentally, or spiritually. Maybe He wants us to depend on Him every day for what we need that day. Maybe, just maybe, He wants us to focus on Him first. When we do that, we can see ourselves rightly, and see others rightly, too. 

There are so many Bible verses to support all this, but the best, I think, is found in Jesus’ answer as to what the greatest command is — “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” All of God’s Word hangs on those two commands [Matthew 22:36-40). 

Sure, even if we do this well, maybe the grass will sometimes still look greener over the septic tank, in the cow pasture, or in the fenced-in dog yard. But remember, there’s a lot of fertilizer in those spots, too. 

News editor Brett Campbell can be reached at brett.campbell@dailyleader.com.