Embrace the Mess

Perfection.

It isn't attainable - in anything. We can agree on that, right?

Yet, we expect it - in everything. Don't we?

Let me present some observations I've made of late...

First, there's the expectation of the perfect marriage. Everyone believes this will be his or her reality. Don't we? However, when the truth hits, it hurts. Check out the divorce rate. Need I say more?

Then, there's the expectation of having the perfect children.

Everyone that is reading this and has kids is taking a minute to LOL right now. It's okay; have a moment.

I mean, shortly after they pop out of the womb and don't sleep through the night and aren't instantly potty trained, we are crushed! Right!?

Despite what the pictures in the Babies-r-Us advertisements convey, our children have flaws.  Disobedience? Bad attitudes? Learning disabilities? Special needs?  They come to us imperfect - each with his or her own issues.  Yet, moms spend hours upon hours, every day, beating themselves up because their children don't measure up.  And measure up to what?  Perfection...

We expect our overall lives to be perfect too - with every hour productively scheduled and each day ending with the family enjoying a meal around the table together.

We expect perfection in everything! We EXPECT it. And at times, we DEMAND it!

In our churches. In our schools. In our government. Do I need to go on?

I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with all this.  It's just an epiphany I've had of late.  And I guess, at least from where I'm sitting, I think we'd have a lot less heartbreak and frustration in this life if we'd just stop expecting and demanding perfection.  That's not to say we shouldn't strive for the best - for the utmost.  We should.  However, we need to stop being so surprised when what we end up with isn't perfect. 

So, I guess what I'm saying is this: Live. Give your all. And embrace the mess.

Okay. I think that's it. It's not a perfect blog post, but it'll have to do. ;-)

Today's forget-me-not: Live. Give your all. Embrace the mess.