The Perfect and The Good

Late last spring, I was crying to my mom on the phone about a problem our family could potentially experience. (Because that's what I often do--think I have to solve problems before they happen!)  She told me,

"You always want everything to be perfect. You just need to enjoy your family."

Wow. Yes. I'm sure my mom would attribute that bit of wisdom to the Holy Spirit. The origin, however, isn't important. I needed to hear that. And that potential problem, even though it still would have been minor in the scope of our family had it happened, didn't happen either. 

I've thought about what my mom said several times in the months since when things are not going as I think they should, even though they are very, very GOOD. As I was doing the homemaker thing yesterday making beds, a similar quote came to mind, "The perfect is the enemy of the good." The thing is, I don't expect everything to be PERFECT. Oh, wait, maybe I kind of do. Or maybe not perfect, but I want everyone to be HAPPY. I realize even though it is my default setting to want everyone to be happy, that is certainly not possible, or beneficial to either of us, especially in parenting. 

Parenting children well and their being happy, just as the perfect and the good, do not always complement each other. OK, hardly EVER do they complement each other. The conflict I experience when my Mama Bear instincts want to fly in and fix one of their temporary hurts, although God is asking me to trust him to use that temporary hurt for a greater good, well that is just plain HARD. 

--(And then I thank God for these small crosses we are both asked to bear.)--

So, yes, I need to be mindful that I cannot let what is less than perfect (or perfectly happy) ruin what is very, very good, because let's face it, perfectly perfect or perfectly happy is pretty difficult to find here on this earth. 

And that brings me to the subsequent thought I had as I finished pulling the covers up over the bed.

This desire for perfection that we have comes from God himself. 

Not everyone would consider themselves a "perfectionist," but we all want circumstances better and nicer to some degree, do we not? If done with our eyes fixed on God's will for our lives, this is what keeps us dreaming and reaching for our full potential, and encouraging our children to do the same. To me, this desire for perfection, or perfect happiness, doesn't have to be a bad thing if it is kept in perspective--and if I don't get in God's way and try to fix things myself. That just delays God's fixing it the right way. To me, this desire for perfection shows me from where I came and where I will someday return--to a perfect eternity in Heaven.

What a timely thought that was as I found out this morning that my dear Grandma Joachim passed away last night. She lived and worked hard on this earth for 98 years. Even in her last few years, she would still often leave me with words of wisdom. One time after she had fallen and I was showing my concern, she told me matter of factly and without concern for herself that "people have to go through things sometimes." Because that's how she lived her life--no time for thinking about how hard something was. You deal with it. And you have a strong faith that shows you where you are headed.

Now, I know I've been mentioning a certain singer quite often lately, but I just can't think of a better song to share this morning. Here are the lyrics and I've also shared a YouTube link to a performance below.  

"MOM"

Little baby told God, "Hey I'm kind of scared.
Don't really know if I want to go down there.
From here it looks like a little blue ball
That’s a great big place and I'm so small.
Why can't I just stay here with you?
Did I make you mad, don't you want me, too?"
God said, "Oh child, of course I do.

But there’s somebody special waiting for you."

So hush now little baby, don't you cry
Cause there's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright.
A loving angel tender, tough and strong.
It's almost time to go and meet your mom.

You'll never have a better friend
Or a warmer touch to tuck you in.
She'll kiss your bruises your bumps and scrapes
And anytime you hurt
Her heart’s gonna break.

So hush now little baby, don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright.
A loving angel tender, tough and strong.
It's almost time to go and meet your mom.

And when she's talking to you, make sure you listen close
She's gonna teach you everything you'll ever need to know.
Like how to mind your manners, to love and laugh and dream
She'll put you on the path that will bring you back to me.

So, hush now little baby, don't you cry
Cause there's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright.
A loving angel tender, tough and strong
Come on child it's time to meet your mom.

Here's the YouTube link:

Garth sings "Mom"

Thanks for stopping by. May you have a blessed day!