He is Perfect...

For as long as I can remember, I have chased perfection. When I was younger, if I started coloring outside the lines, I needed a brand new sheet of paper. However, I never crumpled the old piece of paper before I threw it in the trash. That wasn't perfect. I may have neatly folded it before gently placing it in the trash. The only way to color a perfect picture was with perfectly sharpened crayons. When the very large crayon box with the sharpener on the back hit the store shelves, I know I heard an angel army sing a heavenly melody through every aisle of the store. That sharpener was made for me. I carried this perfectionism throughout my childhood. I always played school with my younger sister, and I just had to be the teacher every single time. I'm pretty sure I was the perfect teacher. I'm certain Mandy was not the perfect student, and that's why she always had to go to time out. Perfectionism traveled with me during my 4 years of undergraduate work at Texas Tech. I almost reached perfection with all A's. When the political science professor entered my grade as a "B" for his class, I had to go talk to him. I made sure he knew a B was not in my plan. He made sure I knew he enjoyed having me in class. Ugh. This only meant I worked my tail off when I pursued my Master's Degree. I had to get a 4.0. I had to earn all A's. I did, and it was perfect. When I had my children, perfectionism no longer seemed in reach. A full-time elementary teacher with two young children and a husband who traveled internationally, I found myself in survival mode almost every day. After spending so much time chasing perfectionism, I had to let it go. Only, I didn't...completely. Old habits will always be hard to break. Taking the first step out of our comfort zone will always be the hardest step. Change will always create a space where we feel unsteady and insecure. This is what I have come to know. Running fast and hard after Jesus, the perfect one, has brought me true, lasting joy. Striving to align my heart with His will has brought me immense satisfaction. It is a level of satisfaction that far surpasses a crayon sharpener and a report card with all A's. Every day, God gifts us with a very fragile 24 hours. As followers of an Almighty Father, we have the blessed opportunity to choose how we spend our time. Put those perfect crayons aside. Trade studying for that perfect A with studying His perfect word. Pause, breathe and look up. For He is perfect. Thanks be to God.