Sometimes wrong is just wrong and can become just plain dumb. Forgive my French. Have you ever known someone who makes the same mistake over and over and over again? There is a saying, "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me." When does bad behavior cease becoming mistaken behavior and we can call it what it really is, intended bad behavior. Take this for instance. A little boy is caught running through the hallway.
Each time he is caught running he claims he forgot, it was a mistake. Out of sight he skips, sprints, then runs again as if oblivious to his surroundings. One afternoon the same thing, the Principal catches him red handed running in the hall! When asked why he was running this time, the young boy says quite emphatically, "I simply could not help it, the wind was blowing me!"
Mistakes are called that for a very good reason. Mistakes are unintended actions with unintended consequences. By definition, they are not ordinary or routine by nature.
When we begin dropping all of our bad behavior into the box labeled MISTAKE we have resorted to dressing up our bad behavior, kind of like putting lipstick on a pig. The pig may look better, but it still stinks and everyone around knows it stinks.
So I have a challenge for us all. The next time you are caught running through the hall, own it! Stand still, take out your forearm, wipe it across your red lips and own your mistakes. Instead of skipping away from your mistakes run toward your redemption.
All of us makes mistakes, but we don't have to wear its lipstick!
Our Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for being such a forgiving God. I have fallen short in areas of honesty and character. I pray that you open my heart to see the hurt I may be causing others and the hurt to myself. I am better than the actions I have demonstrated, I ask for your forgiveness and my healing. Amen.
Each time he is caught running he claims he forgot, it was a mistake. Out of sight he skips, sprints, then runs again as if oblivious to his surroundings. One afternoon the same thing, the Principal catches him red handed running in the hall! When asked why he was running this time, the young boy says quite emphatically, "I simply could not help it, the wind was blowing me!"
Mistakes are called that for a very good reason. Mistakes are unintended actions with unintended consequences. By definition, they are not ordinary or routine by nature.
When we begin dropping all of our bad behavior into the box labeled MISTAKE we have resorted to dressing up our bad behavior, kind of like putting lipstick on a pig. The pig may look better, but it still stinks and everyone around knows it stinks.
So I have a challenge for us all. The next time you are caught running through the hall, own it! Stand still, take out your forearm, wipe it across your red lips and own your mistakes. Instead of skipping away from your mistakes run toward your redemption.
All of us makes mistakes, but we don't have to wear its lipstick!
Our Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for being such a forgiving God. I have fallen short in areas of honesty and character. I pray that you open my heart to see the hurt I may be causing others and the hurt to myself. I am better than the actions I have demonstrated, I ask for your forgiveness and my healing. Amen.
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