Choosing to See Grace More Every Day
by @bethvogt
I haven’t had a perfect day in a long time.
To be honest: I haven’t had a perfect day ever.
Every day I get up with my plans for how the day is going to go.
My plans? They’re not all that fantastic. It’s not like I’m shooting for the moon, literally or figuratively – but I am aiming for personal and professional goals and pursuing my writing dream.
And every day, I wake up … and then every single day interruptions mar my plans for a perfect day.
Yesterday started off with me dragging out of bed after staying up later than I planned the night before – for good reason. I can’t remember what the reason was, but I am almost certain it was a good one.
But hey, even with getting up a bit later than planned, there was still time to win the day and make the plan work.
Except my dog Jo got sick and there was this panic-stricken visit to the vet that totally threw my day off. Jo is fine. And my vet knows how to take care of sick dogs and crying females. He’s the best.
Yesterday most definitely was not the perfect day I’d planned.
Which brings me to a sign I have on my mantle: LIVE BY GRACE, NOT PERFECTION.
I was the one who bought the sign and placed it on the mantle so that I would see it every single day. And I walk past it as if I’m blind.
I operate as if I prefer perfection over grace.
Why do I so easily forget that perfection is not attainable? That those perfect days I’m aiming for are few and far between – if they even exist at all?
And why am I so miserly with grace?
God says he lavishes his grace on us (Ephesians 1:7-8). And yet when it comes to grace, I tend to dispense it as if there’s not enough to last the day. As if there won’t be enough to cover my less than perfect days . . . or my less than perfect life.
Maybe you’re like me . . . pursuing perfect days and overlooking grace.
We need to stop and breathe for a moment. To realize the pursuit of perfection is like running on a treadmill with no off switch. We’re in constant motion, but we’re not making any real progress.
But grace … grace is freely offered. God offers grace to us in a miraculous, life-changing way.
And we can offer grace to ourselves and to one another, bringing a bit of peace and hope to our days.
We need to look more carefully for those grace moments in our imperfect days. Like when your vet offers you compassion when you’re crying on the phone because you think your dog is having a seizure. Or when you’re stuck in a long line at Starbucks and then the person ahead of you pays for your order. Or when that coworker who irritates you so badly you can’t think straight suddenly says something nice.
It’s all grace.
Perfection – I’ve found very little of that.
Grace – I need to look for it more … and I need to offer it more to myself and others.
What about you?
Do We Prefer Perfection Over Grace? http://bit.ly/2PexIkE #perfectionism #choices Click To Tweet 'Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.' quote by @ANNELAMOTT http://bit.ly/2PexIkE #perfectionism #faith Click To Tweet
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Comments 18
Thus, the Parfit Knight, partly in jest.
But partly not. I ain’t all that humble.
Of course, no one’s really perfect,
except, well, I truly am.
I looked hard to find a defect,
but I out-holy Father Abraham.
I’ve Lancelot’s heart’s purity,
and thus, the strength of ten,
and Galahad’s seigneurity,
but I’ll gladly let you in.
You may partake of the repast
prepared by my acolytes,
and stay for stories to the last;
my hundred-and-one Arabian nights.
Perfection? Yes, you’ll find it here,
enabled by my conquered fear.
Author
Good early morning to you, Andrew.
And thank you for starting the conversation off as you so often do.
Yes, you’ve conquered your fear — and do so each and every day. And in doing so, have encouraged me to conquer mine.
And that too, my friend, is grace.
Andrew always brings something worthwhile to the table! As I get older, I strive less for perfection and more for acceptance.
Author
I’ve always appreciated your approach to life, Pat. And acceptance is circumstances, acceptance of others, acceptance of others … it gives a certain grace to life.
Yep that’s me—Maybe you’re like me . . . pursuing perfect days and overlooking grace.—you nailed it. Trying to figure out how to do everything I NEED and WANT to do without driving myself crazy. Smile.
Author
Scoti: I do believe we introduced our “perfect” selves to one another a long time ago … and became more real … offered grace to one another along the way. And became friends. 🙂
His grace. His perfection. 🙂 I need to offer grace to myself and to others more often. Amen
Author
“His grace. His perfection.”
Yes.
Such an excellent post, dear Beth.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Author
Thank you, my friend. Thank you.
Sorry your day got upheaved yesterday but mountaintops get built that way and I believe I see several in your future.
I love the Anne LaMott quote and was pleased/happy to read today that she recently married for the first time to the love of her life. She also found more than recovery mode–a beautiful thing.
Author
I hadn’t read that about Anne Lamott, Dee. What a delight to hear that! You always share such interesting bits of news with me! 🙂
Google it or read her FB post. It’s a happy story.
Author
I am. 🙂
Such a great post, Beth. You’ve got me thinking. There is someone in my life who is not good (AT ALL) about giving others grace. As I spoke with a counselor about this, the insight became more clear as to why: when a person can’t give themselves grace, they can’t give grace to others either. I’ve been thinking about this. And I agree, perfection oppresses, but grace offers freedom.
Author
Wise counsel indeed, Jeanne.
I strive for grace
Author
That is a great life motto … 🙂