I’m a perfectionist by nature. Constant improvement is my life motto and I hate making mistakes. Through the years, I’ve learned not to let this quality hold me back, but instead to push me forward. I’ve learned to embrace mistakes, realizing the importance of excellence yet understanding that striving for perfection is pointless. Mistakes are actually a blessing because once identified and corrected, they have extreme potential.
Spotting mistakes is a quality that I have always had, making grammar and spelling easy subjects for me in school. I loved proofreading my peers’ assignments. Pinpointing mistakes and correcting them was “fun”. I enjoyed helping others improve their papers, yet despised writing my own. Being gracious with others, but hard on myself, I struggled to understand why my way of writing wasn’t any good.
On the contrary, it was usually full of errors. I dreaded facing my own mistakes because I couldn’t accept anything less than perfection. Fear settled in, causing me to give up on writing, as I threw away many projects.
Now, I love to write. I’ve confronted the fear that was stopping me and I’ve learned that God has a purpose for what I compose. I no longer see my mistakes as a reason to dispose of what I put down on paper. Instead, I see them as something to be edited and built upon until I’ve found the best way to express myself.
One mistake doesn’t make a whole composition “wrong”. Many mistakes don’t have the power to define a creative work. Instead of weakening a message, mistakes once edited, can bring life and a new perspective, as the piece is presented with more accuracy and impact. Errors can be transformed into a work of art, as components that didn’t make sense before are reconstructed into a meaningful expression.
This is an incredible illustration of what God does with our lives. He takes our errors and edits them, turning them into a message of hope. He rewrites our story, turning it into a testimony of His faithfulness. He proofreads our dreams, translating them into an eternal purpose. It’s all a beautiful journey.
Mistakes, misunderstandings, and misconceptions, all have the potential to turn into masterpieces as long as we don’t allow fear to keep us hiding in the shadows. Once exposed, an error can be erased and replaced with a second chance, one that’s filled with hope, grace, and love. This continuous process is why Philippians 1:6 (AMP) says, “…He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it…”
Let God edit out the errors today, as you learn to improve without feeling the need to strive for perfection. Let Him transform you through love, as grace and mercy fill your heart, making room for a new beginning. Let God write your story, editing and rewriting it, enabling you to turn another page. And learn to be okay with the beauty found in a few mistakes.
