When I set up for myself high standards, I inevitably set myself up for failure.
I fail when I do poorly on an assignment. I fail when I'm too absorbed in my own worries to take time for a friend who really needs a smile. I fail when I don't show encouragement and love to the person who means most to me. I fail when I don't forgive. I fail when I don't show kindness and compassion. I fail when I decide that I'm too busy for God.
These would be failures in any case, but because I openly acknowledge that I want to be better than this, it hurts all the more when I'm not. And not only have I failed myself, but I've failed all those who expect me to be a good example.
With high standards, failing hurts so much more.
But with high standards comes the opportunity and the motivation to keep trying after failures. I fail, often. Yet yearning after the highest gives me the courage to pray for God's help in spite of everything behind me, and there will be times when I smile, when I love, when I encourage, when I succeed. And the falling is worth the beautiful feeling of being raised up again by Him.
If we didn't fail sometimes, we wouldn't be striving high enough :-) Blessings!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like I do fail so much, and it is often because I want to hold myself to such standards. But, it is true -- if we don't have those high standards, there will never be anything to aim for. What more to strive for than attaining heavenly perfection? I agree with Maria here. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes, I want to be able to immediately improve myself in so many different areas, and undoubtedly I fail at such a high task. But, through Jesus I can slowly improve some things, one at a time.
--Liz B
And we wouldn't know how incredibly beautiful mercy is unless we experience those moments of sin and failure. :)
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