You're my favorite Mistake

Have you ever done something in your life, and instantly you knew there was no turning back and you made the wrong decision.

I recently had a friend make a decision that changed her course on life and at first I thought it was a big mistake.  It's simply amazing how we make decisions and they can be perceived in many different ways.  Right.  Wrong.  Indifferent.  

It made me think about some of the things I felt that I have done correctly or wrongly over the course of my life.  Sure, I haven't made any HUGE mistakes that I regret, but I often wonder if God is up there watching our Game Show life... screaming "Pick Curtain A, Pick Curtain A."  Only for us to choose curtain B.  

I know we have a choice - free will and most of us learn to make the better choices by trial by error.  Theodore Roosevelt said, “The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”

If you really think about most of the great scriptural leaders and references, many of them made huge mistakes.  I think of Abraham, Moses, David, and Peter among a few (a few being a lot!)    

Like those who’ve gone before us, we also flee when we are called to stay, we doubt rather than believe, we commit adultery and often time deny who we are in order that others may like us. 

When I think of my mistakes, I am often reminded that I am maturing through time, experience and opportunities.  God isn’t finished with who I am and what I will someday be. 

 I know many would disagree with me, but personally I don't think I would erase my mistakes even if I could.  Why? I know society says “Failure isn’t an option” but isn’t it what defines us and strengthens us?  

Often times we rush in to “save” our kids from their imperfections or deficiencies.  We want them to not struggle or be lacking in skills, so we “do” it for them.  Surly we don’t want them to struggle but we do want them to experience failure.   I tell people that I want my kids to experience diversity, trials and tribulations and they look at me as if “you horrible mother.” 

But think about it, we want them to be sufficient, self-supporting and well built.  You don’t get a free pass to all of that.   We have to acknowledge that failure can be good. 

When we acknowledge our failures, confess our sins, and examine why we do things we shouldn't or at the time didn't know were mistakes... we are then able to move forward, grow and be blessed.

Everyone makes mistakes and yet God’s love is bigger than them all.  I think often we forget that and our fears of failing consume us.   One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

No matter how big or small, mistakes will be there, we just have to stop over dwelling on them... and stop trying to cover them up.  Just know that even when we pick the wrong curtain, God still loves us and he's there... always.