Against my best efforts, my failure is a perpetual reality. And not failure in a horrid sense, but failure in a less than perfect, with faults sense. When I’m thinking sensibly, failure isn’t the end of the world.
However, sometimes I feel like particular failures are with me over and over again. I try to legitimize these repeated offenses by likening them to Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Maybe my critical self-talk or striving for who knows what is just my constant companion, given to me by God to endure. But then I hear the soft strains of a violin playing its sorrowful song of pity.
I make myself out to be the victim of my own choices. Again and again I choose vanity over humility, I choose ill-humor over joy, I choose myself over God.
God doesn’t see a thorn or a martyr. He sees a broken vesel, a jar of clay who He chooses to pour living water into again and again.
His love never fails. The repetition of my mistakes does not hinder His grace, a grace that He shares so abundantly.
Emily C Gardner 
It’s so hard to give up on perfect, isn’t it? Thank God He doesn’t expect if of these broken jars of clay.
I like how you put that, Kimberly. It is hard to give up on perfect. I just love that giving up doesn’t mean another failure; giving up means we are free to pursue God whole heartedly!
What a lovely response. I too have my “again and agains,” my thorns in the flesh, but I am so grateful that God has His “again and agains” called forgiveness.
LOVE this! So glad I found your blog. Just liked your fb, twitter, and pinterest page.
Your blog (the look and feel and words) are refreshing!
You are a beautiful person inside and out. So glad I found you!
Visiting from FMF… Love, Traci Michele @ Ordinary Inspirations
http://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for the sweet, encouraging words, Traci! Off to check out Ordinary Inspirations… :)
Very inspiring! I love how this phrase, “He sees a broken vessel, a jar of clay who He chooses to pour living water into again and again.” So true. Click here to check out my 5 Minute Friday
Woah that last line – love it!!! Sooo very true. Thank you for your honest and wonderful words.
Thanks for stopping by, Fiona!
Self pity is such a difficult thing to not slip in to, at least for me. If only I could ONLY ever hear God’s voice telling me truth instead of the lies I sometimes tell myself, through pitying my circumstances. Wonderful post! Thank you for sharing.
xoxo,
Gayle | Grace for Gayle
It is for me too, Gayle. Self pity does a good job of masking its identity in other, more acceptable feelings. May we both have open ears and hearts to God’s voice and truth.