"It's not good enough yet"I recently heard a child say this and it shocked me. Instead of saying "it's not done yet", they chose to say "it's not good enough yet". I'm sure the concept of "worthiness" is well known by our older kids but I wasn't prepared for a younger child to express it or demonstrate even the slightest understanding of it. Our striving for worth and perfection is seen by others, especially the younger people in our lives. Not only do they pick up on what we say, they also pick up on how we say it and how we respond to situations. When did we start shaping our actions and responses around proving or growing our worth?When did we start believing...
I'd rather everything stay the same than face the adjustments of change. There have been seasons of my life when everything feels settled and as it should be. There have also been seasons where I've felt uprooted, unsettled, and out of place. Several seasons involved losing close friends and family - to new jobs and new cities, to illness, and to simply growing apart. I've walked away from many of these seasons wondering why I put in the effort to love deeply, fully, and intentionally if people are just going to leave. It is hard work to open yourself up and deepen relationships. It requires a lot of vulnerability to welcome people into your limitations and struggles, which makes it even more difficult when those relationships...
When I throw a party or prepare something special for my friends and family I want it to be right. I want it to be seamless and impressive. I want it to be perfect. And guess what? It never is. I've made plenty of things that were slightly under baked, over seasoned, or room temp by the time my guests ate. I've forgotten to light the candles on tables, left the flowers in the garage, and forgotten to sweep the bathroom floor a countless number of times. I've forgotten and been ashamed by my less than perfect performance. Oh, and I've made the mistake of attempting homemade donuts. All in the name of winning approval. Can I let you in on a little secret? It isn't about...
