Pursuit of Perfection
As I pulled away from the parking lot looking back in the rearview mirror I admired their red cheeks, sweat covered fuzzy hair, and excited eyes. I remembered. Remembered a time when we left the park not long ago with different faces staring back at me. But the same red cheeks, sweat covered fuzzy hair, and excited eyes. On the pursuit of perfection.
Determined. I was determined to do whatever it took for my kids to live a full life without boundaries created by teenage parents, poverty, and generational repeat of history. Determined not to have broken children because of my mistakes and short-comings. So, I read a lot of self-help parenting how-to books and purposefully spent our days exploring parks, library reading activities, riding bikes, rollerblading, and instilling good morals with consequences for actions. I used the determination to make it different to dig deep, drive hard, and actively pursue a better life filled with love, sound morals, and success. On the pursuit of perfection.
As I embark on the journey of our family in this next phase of life I’ve been equally determined but with a different goal in mind. Oh, I want love, sound morals, success, and life without boundaries created by our flaws to result in productive successful members of society as our kids become adults. That’s all still true. But something bigger, deeper, and significantly more important has surfaced to the forefront of my every desire. On the pursuit of perfection.
I’ve been praying for some time that if there is anything I do right, let it be this. Of all the work I do none is as important as this one task laid before me as their momma. In prayer and during service the past few weeks over and over it’s been confirmed.
And honestly, it only makes sense. I remembered a sermon where the pastor used an illustration which I’ll paraphrase here for you. If you know undoubtedly the only safe way to arrive at a destination is to follow these particular steps along a particular route and you as a parent have been tasked with sending your child off alone on a journey to the destination. You are going to very specifically tell them step by step directions. You will likely then demonstrate to them over and over again how to follow those particular steps and which route to take. As a matter of fact, you will probably get in the driver’s seat of the car with them next to you taking notes. No distractions. This is too important. Because the time to hand over the wheel for their journey is fast approaching and you won’t be able to accompany them. No other route will work. No other steps will get them safely to the destination. It is the single most important thing you have to do. There is no time to waste. On the pursuit of perfection.
“ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Let it be this
As I walk let me walk with faith displaying love and compassion for all that is right and good in Christ. Let my actions speak the message of Christ with clarity and accuracy. As I navigate the world around me let my actions speak to a life worthy of my calling. Let this be the story they read as they watch my every move. On the pursuit of perfection.
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth”. 1 John 3:18
Step by step in life my desire is to show the way with actions and in truth.
- When I am faced with the opportunity where love isn’t easy; let me show love.
- When I am walking through hard times; let me show joy.
- When I am in the middle of the storms of life; let me show peace.
- When I am well beyond a reasonable place of expectation; let me show longsuffering.
- When I am frustrated and spent; let me show gentleness.
- When I am faced with an opportunity to be self-serving; let me show goodness.
- When things make sense and when they don’t; let me show faith in my God with faithfulness.
- When given the opportunity to serve in God’s purpose; let me show meekness.
- When my desires are to respond hastily indulging in my own wishes; let me show temperance.
Most of all, as I walk let me walk with a love for Christ and his ways displaying always they are above my ways. Let the deepest desire of my heart be to seek him first all the days of my life. Throughout the course of this life as our children watch and learn from the actions we display more so than the words we speak; let me show them Jesus.
If there is anything I do right; let it be this. Bobbie
