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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Nobody’s Perfect

Somebody really, really hurt my feelings this week. They said a few critical things about me as a speaker. I found out Sunday evening right before I went to bed, and I let it get to me. I woke up all through the night feeling like I’d had a bad dream.

In the morning I felt like I never wanted to speak again. It continued throughout Monday. While I was talking to God about it, and trying to get His perspective, it dawned on me that criticism is like a bee sting and doubt is it’s poison.

When someone criticizes me as a mom, I doubt myself as a mom. When someone criticizes me as a friend, I doubt my ability to be a good friend. And when one person criticizes me as a speaker I begin to doubt my calling – or at least want to run from it.

I let the poison of doubt discourage me for 24 hours. Then I called a friend who oh so wisely told me: “Renee, you will never be perfect. And if you ever get to a point where you are, you will be in the wrong calling.”

Who made that rule? Why can’t I be perfect? It’s what I’ve been working towards for over 40 years now. Well, not really, but I do want everyone to like me. I want to be without flaw. I want to be protected from the sting of others’ disapproval.

God’s Timing is Perfect!

The same day my wise old-owl friend told me I’m not perfect, my sister-in-love sent me a photo of me singing “Nobody’s Perfect” in the Hannah Montana wig I gave my niece for Christmas. Aren’t we beautiful?

God’s timing is perfect and I love His sense of humor. Now I’ve been singing that song, and it’s helping. Hannah’s got a good point – nobody’s perfect.

I think we all need to do the Hannah jig and maybe get a wig (Target $10). Click the arrow below to sing along.

And if you want the words to post on your refrigerator, here they are. I apologize in advance that you may be singing them in your head all day.

After singing and praying, I am feeling much better. I finally tucked myself into God’s arms and His Truth. I knew that only He could take the stinger out and replace my doubt with hope. He reminded me that even Jesus, the only perfect One to walk this earth, was not liked by everyone. He was constantly accused, criticized and at the center of others’ disapproval. I am in good company in my imperfection.

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Comments

  1. Your post struck a cord with me. I struggle with those issues too. We KNOW that way we are suppose to feel as Christians, but it’s hard to do sometimes in this fleshly body. Blessings as we keep on keeping on in this journey of life.