Imperfections

           I was feeling a bit overwhelmed this weekend. I’ve let myself get fat again. I’m behind on several projects. I’m trying to finish all my paperwork at school. Our house is still chaos. The packing boxes are stacked high. There are rooms unfinished, unpainted, undecorated. I was sick and tired Sunday and feeling guilty about not attending church. Then God sent me a little messenger. I was getting some water from the kitchen and had turned to look at the pond when a beautiful butterfly landed on the sliding glass door. I recognized it as a Painted Lady because we’ve raised them in class. I was admiring it when I suddenly noticed that there was a small piece missing from the bottom of its wing. “Flawed”, I thought. “But still beautiful” answered God. My heart heard those words as surely as if they had been shouted.

Flawed. That’s been my outlook lately- looking at all the things around me that have gone wrong, that aren’t quite right, that don’t work. When I start feeling bad about my life it is usually because I’m seeking a level of perfection that cannot be attained. I can’t be all things to all people. I can’t work on my body and health while I’m moving. I can’t work on the house until school is over. And no matter what I do there will always be more to do. Instead of being a depressing thought it’s rather uplifting to know that life goes on. I need to be more mindful of my blessings. There are those who have bodies in far worse shape than mine- people with cancer and other diseases who are beyond the worries of fat vs. thin. There are people who wish they could work, but can’t. There are people who don’t have homes to paint or finish or decorate because they’ve been destroyed by the forces of nature. There are people with problems far greater than my own.

“Flawed” is not a description, it’s a fact. We are all flawed in some way because only Jesus is perfect. We can hope. We can strive. We can work. But we will never be perfect except in heaven.

So life goes on… people with imperfections manage to be happy. Homes with imperfections still provide shelter and comfort for people in need.

And butterflies with imperfections are still beautiful…

Comments

[Jessica]

Reminded me of one of my favorite hymns.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

[Marilyn]

This is beautiful. I'm so glad I read this. I truly needed to read it and at this time. God always shows us the way. Thanks. Marilyn