Dear friends,

Let’s talk about one of the most humbling, slightly embarrassing, very human experiences we all share… wanting stuff we didn’t even know we wanted five minutes ago.

You know the commandment: “Do not covet.” (see Exodus 20:17).
And if you’re like me, you used to think, “Okay cool, I don’t want my neighbor’s husband, so I’m doing great.” Meanwhile… I’m side-eyeing her kitchen like it personally calling my name.

So, here’s what happened in my house.

My husband comes home one day, mind completely hijacked by trucks. Not just a truck… no no… we’re talking 150, 250, 350… diesel, turbo, lifted, packages… “left packages?” I don’t even know. At some point, I stopped listening and just nodded like, “Yes my love, that sounds… very trucky.”

And my son? Oh, he was right there fueling the situation like a tiny car salesman. The two of them speaking a whole language I do not have the gift of interpretation for. I’m just in the background wondering why tires need to be the size of small apartments.

Now mind you—this man already has a beautiful car. A two-year-old Honda Accord. Tinted windows. The exact package he wanted. He loved it. No complaints. Life was good.

Until… the parking lot.

Because apparently, all it takes is one stroll past a lineup of shiny trucks for your brain to go, “Wait… am I behind in life?”

And here’s where I had to check myself too—because I’m over here like, “You work hard, go ahead and get it!” Not because we need it. Not because anything is lacking. But because that little voice whispers, “More would be nice.”

And if I’m being honest… I’m no better.

I am perfectly happy with my life… until I see a brownstone with a renovated kitchen. Suddenly, I’m like, “Lord… I, too, could be a woman who cooks again.”
Ma’am. You don’t even use your current kitchen like that.

So, what is that?

It’s not just us being dramatic (although… a little bit). It’s actually how we’re wired. Psychologists call it social comparison theory—our brains are constantly measuring, scanning, asking:
“Am I doing okay?”
“Should I have that too?”

Then there’s that “grass is greener” moment—where your perfectly good life gets a little blurry the second someone else’s looks shiny.

And let’s be real… sometimes what we own feels like it says something about us. Success. Stability. Progress. So, when someone upgrades, it can quietly poke at your identity like, “Are we still winning?”

But here’s the truth that gently sat me down:

Feeling that pull doesn’t make you ungrateful.
It makes you human.

What matters is what you do with it.

Because there’s a difference between:

One moves you forward. The other steals your joy.

The Bible doesn’t just say don’t covet to ruin our fun—it’s actually protecting our peace. Because comparison has a sneaky way of making a full life feel empty.

Like it says in Hebrews 13:5:
“Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

That’s the anchor right there.

Because contentment doesn’t mean you don’t have goals.
It means your joy isn’t on hold until you reach them.

So yes—dream about the kitchen.
Yes—talk about the truck (or… listen halfway like me).
Yes—set goals and go after them.

But also… sit in your current life and recognize:
this version of your life? It once answered a prayer.

Comparison is automatic.
But contentment? That’s intentional.

So next time you feel that little tug—pause. Ask yourself:
“Do I actually want this… or do I just like how it looks on them?”

And then decide from a place of gratitude, not pressure.

We’re all in this. Same thoughts, same moments… just different choices.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go stand in my perfectly good kitchen and appreciate it… while also casually saving brownstone pictures on Pinterest. Growth, not perfection.

Love you all.

From your Friend it’s me Lorie