By Hannah Muñoz, The Snow-less Rope Contributor

Snowpocalypse, snowmaggedon — whatever you called it happened in Birmingham and other areas of Alabama last year. My family in mid Tennessee also got some snow, but not nearly as much as I got while I was at Samford University. We were out of classes for about a week and everyone had a great time sledding, making snow angels, throwing snowballs and other  snow-related fun.

Meanwhile I was stuck in my dorm room with bronchitis after I had been in a small wreck because of the snow on campus. So I did not get to enjoy the festivities. This week Birmingham was supposed to get some snow. Then it turned into a freezing rain forecast. Now it looks like it might just be a bunch of liquid rain and cold days. So a very low chance of classes being cancelled. And mid Tennessee is getting enough snow to close schools (which isn’t much, but hey — it’s something).

I see all of these pictures of people enjoying the snow at home and I don’t get to enjoy it. People at school are even posting pictures of last year’s snow storm that I didn’t get to participate in. And I can’t enjoy the pictures because I’m too busy being jealous and resentful of the fact that I didn’t get to participate last year and I don’t get to participate this year.

I recognize that jealousy is a horrible “disease” and that it’s silly to be jealous over something as insignificant as who gets to play in the snow. But jealousy is a hard feeling to deal with or get over when you’re in the middle of it. And it washes over us as quickly as your eyes can flicker to one thing that you don’t have: a scarf, a game, a new phone … even snow.

I’ve tried looking up helpful tips for overcoming jealousy and the majority of the advice I’ve found is about jealousy in relationships. But I did find this verse over and over again:

“The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Galatians 5:14

I should be happy for the people who wanted snow and got their wish. And for the people who are reminiscing over last year’s big snow. They aren’t to blame for my inability to play in the snow. So getting aggravated with them over pictures they post will only keep the bitterness on my side of the friendship. And I don’t want bitterness intruding on my friendships.

How do you deal with jealousy? Do you have a favorite verse that you turn to for comfort from jealous feelings? I’d love to hear it! Comment below or send us an email at therope@thealabamabaptist.org.