Imperfectly Excellent
Submitted by Lori Bova, Patriot Mom
Alright mommas, conviction time (again!). Have you ever listened to a message at church and wondered if the teacher had been a fly on YOUR wall? Did he make a statement that made tears come to your eyes because it sounded just like YOUR story? Have you wanted to exit the room before everyone knew that the horrific description being portrayed described YOU exactly?! Welcome to my world.
I was the beneficiary of these uncomfortable circumstances at the NAUMS Conference earlier in July. I was participating in a session called “Discovering Excellence”. The first series of questions zapped me. “Are you more concerned with PERFECTIONISM or EXCELLENCE?” “Do you know the difference between the two?” “Is your pursuit of perfectionism stealing your JOY?” YIKES! There go the tears. Exit stage left!
I looked up “perfect” on biblegateway.com. Did you know that every scripture containing the word “perfect” all pertained to our Lord? I couldn’t find one reference regarding MY perfect ways. Only His words and ways are perfect, so why should we spin our wheels trying to achieve the unachievable. If we humans strive for perfection, we will LOSE every time.
Instead, God wants us to pursue EXCELLENCE in all we do. Here are a few ways that we can shift our focus toward excellence (courtesy of S. Zink, slightly modified by L. Bova):
Excellence focuses on the growth involved in doing well (the process) versus simply achieving a goal.
Excellence says let’s see what is critical without being critical (with our words).
Excellence is being pulled toward a goal WITHOUT fear of failure.
Excellence is about ME doing the right thing right (not just my husband and children and everyone else around me).
Excellence says NO to the unimportant to leave room for the important.
Excellence honors God and His plan.
Perfectionism can inhibit our effectiveness because we lose sight of “why” we are pursuing the goal. It affects our productivity as we begin to avoid the hard things for fear of failure. Lastly, it steals our joy as we are never able to achieve the ideal.
So come on ladies, join me on a journey toward personal excellence. Let’s focus on God’s goodness and patience with each of us and remember that He’s still working on us. Discover excellence!
Titus 3:7-9 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Alright mommas, conviction time (again!). Have you ever listened to a message at church and wondered if the teacher had been a fly on YOUR wall? Did he make a statement that made tears come to your eyes because it sounded just like YOUR story? Have you wanted to exit the room before everyone knew that the horrific description being portrayed described YOU exactly?! Welcome to my world.
I was the beneficiary of these uncomfortable circumstances at the NAUMS Conference earlier in July. I was participating in a session called “Discovering Excellence”. The first series of questions zapped me. “Are you more concerned with PERFECTIONISM or EXCELLENCE?” “Do you know the difference between the two?” “Is your pursuit of perfectionism stealing your JOY?” YIKES! There go the tears. Exit stage left!
I looked up “perfect” on biblegateway.com. Did you know that every scripture containing the word “perfect” all pertained to our Lord? I couldn’t find one reference regarding MY perfect ways. Only His words and ways are perfect, so why should we spin our wheels trying to achieve the unachievable. If we humans strive for perfection, we will LOSE every time.
Instead, God wants us to pursue EXCELLENCE in all we do. Here are a few ways that we can shift our focus toward excellence (courtesy of S. Zink, slightly modified by L. Bova):
Excellence focuses on the growth involved in doing well (the process) versus simply achieving a goal.
Excellence says let’s see what is critical without being critical (with our words).
Excellence is being pulled toward a goal WITHOUT fear of failure.
Excellence is about ME doing the right thing right (not just my husband and children and everyone else around me).
Excellence says NO to the unimportant to leave room for the important.
Excellence honors God and His plan.
Perfectionism can inhibit our effectiveness because we lose sight of “why” we are pursuing the goal. It affects our productivity as we begin to avoid the hard things for fear of failure. Lastly, it steals our joy as we are never able to achieve the ideal.
So come on ladies, join me on a journey toward personal excellence. Let’s focus on God’s goodness and patience with each of us and remember that He’s still working on us. Discover excellence!
Titus 3:7-9 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Great thoughts, Lori. Thanks for sharing! I am definitely guilty of pursuing perfection for my own glory rather than excellence for God's glory.