Do you get super stressed when you make a simple mistake? Do you have trouble forgiving yourself? Perhaps you view yourself through the eyes of someone else? Maybe you simply expect too much of yourself.
Perfection is a nice goal, but it’s not very realistic.
In 2006, I goofed at performing my job. I make a lot of mistakes, but this one was fairly big. I was trying to follow directions from two different folks. The directions I received were opposite, but I did not realize they were talking about the same thing. If I had realized it, I could have clarified the situation before I went forward. In the end, I acknowledged my mistake. The goof was excused. – End of story.
Why do I remember this so well?
I remember it because of the grace that was provided, and God used this incident to show me that I had a really messed up perspective on life.
I had been around many hot-tempered, high-strung individuals who would probably have blown up in a fit of rage over such a blunder. In return, my self-esteem would have sunk a little further.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17
I saw Jesus working through someone else that day. The grace I was shown pierced the darkness, and the truth peeped through. I began to see that I really, really did not have to be perfect. I had expected way too much of myself. Not only that, but I think that I began to take another look at the pass I had given to folks who had mistreated me for way less serious mistakes.
When we make a mistake, we blame ourselves. When someone else comes along and jumps on us for that mistake, we blame ourselves more. It’s one thing to forgive someone for getting on us. It’s another to assume that they had a right to do it the way that they did it, and then let that color our perspective about our own self worth.
When you extend grace to someone, it can be very healing. Choose to not get upset over something that most folks would be upset over. Look at the intent of the heart, and give them what they need instead of venting as a way of filling your need. Your grace shows them that they matter a lot more than the mistake they made.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to take a look at how others have treated you in the past. Realize that you matter to God a lot more than you matter to anyone else. Realize that other folks are not perfect, but neither are you. Tempers flare sometimes, but don’t value and accept someone else’s opinion of you as true. Seek your value and self worth through the eyes of God, and not through the eyes of man. Then, reach out to others, extend them grace, and let them see Jesus in you!