Post by lildee on Feb 6, 2005 23:46:51 GMT -5
A Life of My Own
To be human means having "defects of character."
Perfection, our own and others', was (and still is, for some of us), a burdensome expectation we have dragged everywhere. And because we've expected the impossible, we've lived either in perpetual shame over our own failings or in guilt over how we have treated others who were only human.
Many of us grew up with parents who demanded perfection. We never quite satisfied them, but we did, quite perfectly, learn how to expect perfection from others. It's important to remember that our parents did the best they could and that we shouldn't blame them for all our defects of character. But there is something we can do about our defects.
A big load is removed from our shoulders when we give up our obsession with perfection. Although it has worked in our favor on occasion, perhaps on a work assignment, the need for perfection is not something we have always kept in perspective. Sincerely doing our best is really quite good enough. God, as we understand God, expects nothing more.
I will try to do my best today, but I will not feel ashamed if I make mistakes.
To be human means having "defects of character."
Perfection, our own and others', was (and still is, for some of us), a burdensome expectation we have dragged everywhere. And because we've expected the impossible, we've lived either in perpetual shame over our own failings or in guilt over how we have treated others who were only human.
Many of us grew up with parents who demanded perfection. We never quite satisfied them, but we did, quite perfectly, learn how to expect perfection from others. It's important to remember that our parents did the best they could and that we shouldn't blame them for all our defects of character. But there is something we can do about our defects.
A big load is removed from our shoulders when we give up our obsession with perfection. Although it has worked in our favor on occasion, perhaps on a work assignment, the need for perfection is not something we have always kept in perspective. Sincerely doing our best is really quite good enough. God, as we understand God, expects nothing more.
I will try to do my best today, but I will not feel ashamed if I make mistakes.
. I will be back looking for Lin and others.