Matthew 5:48 – Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (NRSV)

James 3:2a – For all of us make many mistakes. (NRSV)

My grandfather had many admirable traits and a few that made life a bit difficult for his rambunctious grandkids. Grampy was a perfectionist. He was a boat builder who would tear out complete decking if things did not line up perfectly. Every screw head had to match the previous one … you get the idea.

Shortly before he died at 89, he came to visit me and my young family, and he brought us a gift: a matching pair of candlesticks that he had made that same week. I was thanking him profusely for this personal gift (which I cherish to this day) when he interrupted and said, "They have a mistake in them, so I thought I'd give them to you." Instead of being deflated, I looked over the gift and said, "Yes, I can see the flaw right there." He was shocked and demanded to see what I had pointed at. He had presumed that the flaw was so minuscule that no one would ever find it. That was part of his perfectionism.

Indigenous crafters acknowledge that perfection is with the Creator alone, and they weave a mistake into the beadwork to concede that flawlessness belongs to the Creator.

My grandfather really did know that he could make mistakes, and I, his grandson, have not a doubt about the many mistakes that I have compiled throughout life.

Let's be kind to ourselves today as we set about the tasks that await us. We aren't going to get everything right, but as we focus on the way of Jesus, we'll have a much better idea of what we should be doing. Here is today's verse in a different version:

Matthew 5:48 – Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete. (CEB)

Prayer: God, help us today to strive to live each and every moment in Your grace, following in the footsteps of Jesus. That's all that we ask for today! Help us to live here and now, immersed in Your amazing mercy. It is in this moment that we are called to live in Your perfect love. Amen.

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About the author:

Kenn Stright <kennethstright@yahoo.ca>
West Petpeswick, Nova Scotia, Canada
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