Success or Failure Depends on How We Measure

Have you ever taken a test and felt like you failed? That you just didn’t do enough, weren’t smart enough, that you somehow lacked what it takes to succeed? What if you. Get your exam back and you did bomb it?  Was your score an 85%, 65% or did you actually earn a failing grade? There are those who consider anything less than a perfect score failure. The truth is I bet you with a whole lot of confidence that even on your worst day you never got a zero on an exam. 

We all strive to do better but what is not okay is when we can’t celebrate our wins. In class and in life we

can focus on what we got wrong or where we got it right. Saying I am not good at may be true. Maybe math is not your strength but it doesn’t mean you can’t do any math. None of us would try to pay a $23. bill at the grocery store with a five dollar bill. Even I can do the math and know that would not be enough. It is kind of like those people who say they don’t have any faith. Wrong. We all drive down the road having faith that the driver coming toward us will stay on their side of the line. It is not that we don’t have faith or that we can’t do math but that we are not confident in ourselves and our abilities. 

So next time your lasagna comes out a little crispy around the edges, don’t consider it a bust. But enjoy the crunch and maybe check your oven temperature. Maybe the overcooked meal has less to do with your cooking skills and more to do with something beyond your control. I heard a story of a mother-in-law who gave her husband’s wife the recipe for his favorite meal. But she wanted him to appreciate her dish more than his bride’s so she left out an important ingredient. It was not a fail when the dish didn’t live up to his Mom’s. But there are other times when we have everything to make something and it is just not quite up to our regular standards. That is not a time to beat ourselves up but be grateful for all the successes we have had. 

So my advice is strive to do your best but don’t condemn yourself when things don’t turn out just as you expected. The worst is when you turn in a test and think you aced it only to get it returned with mistakes you thought were correct answers. A few weeks ago we had Ron’s family reunion near our home. I made Posole which has always been one of my families favorite dishes I make. Ron said it was the best I had ever made. A+.  But it could have just turned out okay. I would have had to be okay with that. Of course, I am beyond grateful for the success and that everyone wanted my recipe. Hmmmm, should I tell them I put cream cheese in it at the end to make it smoother? Yep, I think I will.

In Him,

Joyful

8-1-22