Don't Focus On Others, Focus On Others.

This is from Pages entry - Notes to Me From Life - thought you might identify.
Dear Me,
How is that for a title?  But  you know exactly what you mean.  You tell yourself often..."it is not about you, it is not about you, it is not about you."  Okay, you get it...and then it is about 'you' again.  So, you take the focus off of you and onto others...in order to serve them, meet their needs, love them.  It feels right because it IS right.  It is part of dying to self-centered YOU.  The thing is, you will fall back into comfortable ways the minute you are tired, are inconvenienced, or taken advantage of.  These are snares.  You were born with this nature that wants its own way and once you became a Christian, it did not disappear. (Why, oh why not? Sigh.) The sinful nature now shares residence with the new creature you are...but now you have the power to overcome.  Praise God.  You do not have to give in to those snares.  Fight back.
The other side of focusing on others is focusing on others.  You know, sometimes you do not make sense, but you know exactly what you mean...again.  You put people under a microscope, either to learn about them or compare yourself with them.  You know you do that.  You watch them and admire, and then realize that you do not measure up.  Right idea, wrong standard. You do not measure up, but the right standard is Christ Jesus, not 'Sally Jones.'  So quit focusing on others and start focusing on others.  Yep, that sums it up pretty good.  All in and for the name of the Lord Jesus.  Amen.