The Wand of Frustration

I HATE FEELING LIKE I'M FAILING....At training, motherhood, my home, my job, my church callings.

This was a thought expressed in a message from a friend. She did share many of her successes. However, that nagging feeling like her best just isn't good enough hit home for me.

I hate feeling like I am failing. Don't we all feel that. If we take the wand of frustration and wave it over everything we do we think, Holy Crap I am failing at everything. We miss much we are actually accomplishing, such as serving others, exercising more,being nicer people or how we have sacrificed many of our desires and pursuits to focus our attention on raising little people. All of the joy from these successes are demolished as we take out that wand and pulverize ourselves.

We rob ourselves of the true rewards of our labors by beating ourselves up for everything that didn't exceed our wildest expectations.

We need to break that wand of frustration!

Instead?

Hang up the Mirror of Success.

Look at everything through that mirror! As I teach primary I realize the power of God's love for his children. It would break His heart to think a little child thought they were failing. He sees all of our amazing triumphs, improvements, kindnesses, desires, efforts. He loves and values all of them. When I think about these things in terms of children it is much easier for Me to get. It breaks my heart to think a little child hates their body, it is heart breaking to think a child doesn't know their special talents.

I will share a story about Little Brian and his friend I will call "Josh". Brian will come home and say, "Josh is the best colorer, Josh is the fastest runner, Josh is the best baseball player" It is funny because Josh believes all of these things, and he sells it. My sweet little Brian buys it hook, line and sinker.

I stop and make sure Brian hasn't missed the fact that he is an excellent runner, he is an amazing story teller and writer. If a friend is injured he immediately offers a hug.

Josh's mom told me, "Brian is welcome over anytime. he is such the complimenter, he always makes Josh feel so good."

It occurred to me, "What does Josh do for Brian?" On Sunday he said, "Brian, that is not a church shirt, and last week you didn't look right either." What? The week prior he was in a suit and tie. How swift is criticism to injure?

We must make sure our kids are built up at home. Praised for their talents. Noticed for their good works. Encourage relationships that uplift them. Ensure they know how to nurture others. Teach them how to be kind to others, and how to recognize good in themselves.

Seems so basic. Yet do we praise, uplift, and nurture ourselves? Our spouses? Our friends?

We easily recognize others who excel. We notice who is "the best" which is perfectly normal. Unfortunately, it is human nature to compare ourselves to the very best characteristics of others. Pretty soon we have pieced together the ultimate person. If we can not compete with this ultimate person then we have failed. How are we so effective at noticing brilliance in others, yet fail to see it in ourselves? Couldn't we all use a little more Brian's in our life? People praising and appreciating our talents, building us up to fight our next fights, always there with hugs when we fall. I love my friends and family that I enjoy through blogging. Each person teaches and inspires me. Other perspectives add to my ability to recognize the humor, beauty, struggles, and triumphs of life. It is nice to know we are not alone in our efforts, goals, and frustrations. Every venture may not succeed to our hearts desires, but it never hurts to share a chuckle along the way as we each overcome our own version of potty training mishaps.