Today, actually everyday, I struggle with being enough. With feeling like I make a difference. With my need to matter. It is so easy to look around and find my failures.
- I don't keep the house as clean as I should.
- I don't dress up, actually, I dress comfortably 99% of the time.
- I take things personally, even when I don't want to.
- I yell at my children when I get frustrated.
- I don't trust my Heavenly Father enough.
- I try and do too many things.
- I don't fix dinner every night.
- I would rather read than do my chores.
- I don't say, "I love you" often enough.
- I feel overwhelmed most of the time.
And that is not even the tip of the iceberg of my faults. Realistically though, I know that I am not alone. I know that when I look at myself this way, I am in the business of comparing myself to the woman I think I should be. The woman that criticizes me. The woman who knows what I could be if I would only try a little harder and do a little better.
I am only looking at half the picture of myself. I am looking at what I could be if I were perfect. I am looking at the goal without seeing the good things that surround me. I am not looking at my own successes. My own triumphs.
I think that I am probably a lot like you. We each see more of our faults than our good part. We see more of the would'a, could'a, should'a that surrounds us, and we forget the half that is the will, shall, and can. Yet, that half is part of me too.
- It is easy for me to love.
- It is easy for me to take care of people.
- It is easy for me to worship.
- I have faith.
- I write poetry
- I have the ability to overlook the faults in others.
- I love to teach.
- I love to share.
- I love to write about my Heavenly Father.
- I cherish all things family in my heart.
And that is not the tip of that iceberg either. There are many more things that I also do very well. I think one of the biggest mistakes we make is to only share our faults and our failings we forget to share our triumphs and our joys.
Maybe, just maybe, if we are brave, we will find out that parts of us truly are wonderful too. So, my challenge to you today is to find ten things that you are good enough in. Ten things that show who you are and what you do. Ten things that are unique to you.
Come on, try it. You really are good enough!
Great post. I such a true fact that we judge ourselves by our weakness compared to someone else's strengths. I am a person who wants to be perfect in so many things - but fall short of my own expectations. Sometimes being good enough is enough. I'm really trying hard at remembering that so that I have better selfworth unstead of thinking I am failing all the time.
ReplyDeleteThanks you for a very honest open post. I will accept your challenge because I feel just like you and I am sure there are more out there that feel the same.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you for a post that I will ponder upon.
I really like this reminder and the challenge. I think and know you are a great writer. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou know, even as I read through your list of "failures", I didn't see them as failures. Maybe because I can relate to all 10 of them. I see you as a good mother, who loves the Lord and her family, trying to do the best she can, giving of herself with every post she writes on this blog... uplifting all who read her words. You are one woman, trying to fill many shoes, giving all she has. That is all that is asked of us. I will take your challenge, because it's always good to try to improve on our weak spots. Thanks for sharing yourself today. :)
ReplyDeletePatty, you are AWESOME! "There is so much bad in the best of us, and so much good in the worst of us, that it hardly behooves any of us to talk about the rest of us." (I don't recall author - sorry)
ReplyDeleteReading this reminds me that it is SO EASY for me to see others weaknesses or failures and think nothing of it - but it is so much harder to do that for ourselves. I may have to meet your challenge to make up a list like this (though not today because I need to get off the computer and have a VERY FULL day ahead of me).
Hugs,...you deserve them!
Corine :D
I would rather read than do my chores, too!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have a great point, though. We need to remember to focus on what we do right, too.
It is so easy to beat ourselves up, but you are such a wonderfully created woman with so many great attributes. I'm glad to have been acquainted with you through writing because when you share your heart it's such a blessing to others, too. Wonderful BPM!!
ReplyDeleteThankyou so much. I beat myself up all of the time. Especially when I am struggling or frustrated. This was such a wonderful post with just the message I needed. Thankyou.
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