I wasn’t planning to write. That is, until we missed our flight.
I guess that’s what happens when you confuse your departure time with your arrival time, and all eight of you miss your flight entirely.
I know. Brilliant.
I stand at the counter with the ticket agent there, and her six-year-old self saunters over to encourage me.
She runs her hand back and forth along my arm, as if to help me know everything’s going to be okay. And she says it with conviction, as if she’s the mama now.
“Mama, who makes mistakes?” her voice begging a unified response.
“Everybody!” we say together, like a song.
Her smile melts me. And it’s amazing how children can preach to you, using the very same words you’ve said to them countless times.
So we all sit. And we pause. With six hours to wait.
And maybe a mistake can become a gift, if we choose to see?
We eat burgers, and play cards.
Draw pictures, and play with stuffed animals.
And who knew airport seats and sweatshirts could become stuffed-animal houses?
And long waits could become so much fun?
The truth is, as well-intentioned as we often are, we all make mistakes.
We underestimate, over analyze, under plan, and fail. And no matter how hard we try, there’s always one time, some time, we miss the mark and get it all wrong. And when we do, we feel sucker-punched in the gut, regretful of our error, and disappointed in our ineptitude.
But it’s our response to our mistakes which determines the gift each mistake holds.
Failure is always a chance to begin again, as wrong places beg to be made right spaces.
A mistake can always become a gift if we choose to let go, give thanks, and start new. [Tweet that]
The question is:
Will we fail well?
Will we learn more?
Will we see the gift inside our mistake?
Because maybe giving thanks for our now, avoids the regrets of our then.
And giving thanks is the key to how a mistake becomes a gift . . . the one God intended for us all along.
How has a mistake or failure become a gift in your life?
What are you thankful for today?
Continuing on in the counting of 1,000 gifts and beyond with Ann, and her beautiful community.
And why not take the #Joy Dare and join us in counting gifts wherever you are??
Safe flights
IF : Gathering Austin
House chats & Hugs & Online friends
Moving worship, so moved
Notes in Moleskine
Sunshine over hills
Voxer notes
Doctor wisdom
Ibuprofen power
Water falling
Dishwasher humming
Husband working hard
Cuddles and Hugs amidst fevers
Antibiotics and sleep
Class updates
Laundry help
Romans 12:1-13
Those are some adorable kiddos you get to hang out with. Little preachers-in-training. 😉 Was this on your way out to your cruise?
What a concept…failing well. I am familiar with the idea of giving my children the freedom to fail, but it is so hard for the perfectionist in me to let them…often I try to rescue them. I want them to be successful. I want to be successful. (And deep down, I want others to see us as successful.) What a gift to realize that when we fail…and we do, quite regularly…that by continuing to walk in love, we aren’t failures…we are learning to fail well! Thank you, Jacque! Perspective! It’s so important!
Now, failing is something I can relate to, “failing well” is a God concept not a human one. It take God working in our hearts to see the world through failure and know He is still into using the one who failed. I am studying Gideon right now and that is the message of a people who failed all too often yet God wanted to show His glory through them. Love this perspective.
Thank you Kathy! This was on our return, and how thankful I was for another flight that day with open seats!
From one recovering perfectionist to another, oh how I know! And I am with you, learning so much in the failing…xo Sending so much love to you!
Ah Betty, yes!…His glory through those who’ve failed. Just beautiful. Begging with you to hold our gaze here and fail well that He, in His graciousness, would redeem it for good and help us to see…