We must talk and we must discuss this now. It feels very urgent to me somehow.
It is the idea, the idea of perfection, especially the perfection we expect in other people. Take a breath please and think about it. We really do – do this. Most of us have great expectations that people will be perfect or close to that. Perfect bus drivers – that never forget our child. Perfect teachers – that always know just what to say. Perfect checkout persons at the grocery store – that never miss our coupons. Perfect drivers on the road with us – never texting. Perfect servers – who never forget our refills. Let’s all remember something:
People are not perfect.
I know this because I am a person. A real broken messed up person who does her best and STILL messes up. So, before we start complaining about what happened to us at the post office, we must remember there IS an imperfect person actually trying their best behind our complaints. I believe this. I think we all should believe this. Yes, those people we deal with daily (guess what) they really are trying their best!
I bring this up because I had an assignment that said, “If I had 3 wishes I would wish:”
And instantly I knew my first wish.
I wish people would let others off the hook more.
Or as Kid President would say, “Hey, world! It’s okay about all the mess ups!”
Funny, I don’t expect perfection from those I know best, like my husband for example (Yes, honey I know it is shocking right? I said you aren’t perfect.) I mean really! What wife expects perfection from her husband? We don’t because when we LOVE people well, we let them off the hook. When we LOVE people we are kind. We see more of the whole picture of their life and we see what they do, we know what they think about, we see what they are going through AND something amazing happens, we become COMPASSIONATE.
This just triggered me today because if anyone is at fault for expecting perfection, I am. I fall into this thinking and I realized, it is wrong and it is a habit. A habit that can be broken. Jesus Calling by Sarah Young summed it up so well. Here Jesus speaks to us,
“Something that is a baby step for you may be a giant step for another person,
and vice versa. Only I know the difficulty or ease of your journey. Beware of
trying to impress others by acting as if your giant steps are only baby ones. Do
not judge others who hesitate, in trembling fear, before an act that would be
easy for you. If each of my children would seek Me above all else, fear of
others’ judgments would vanish, as would attempts to impress others.
Focus your attention on the path just ahead of you and on the One
who never leaves your side.”
We do it every day, we put on our armor and act as if we are tough, but really we are so very, very fragile. It is my goal this day and every day to handle all those I deal with daily with care. I make this goal with full knowledge that I will fail sometimes.
But that’s okay, because perhaps it will be you to let me off the hook.
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