Hey Everyone,
I was listening to the story of a young man who was telling his life story. Although he was only 35, he said he'd already lived the lives of multiple men, and by the end of his talk, I more than agreed.
He grew up in a very poor, abusive household which already aged him well beyond his years. In high school, he was put on track to become a professional hockey player -- until an injury dashed his hopes. He went into the US military, hoping to make that into a career, but again, an injury ended his dreams. He said with great sorrow rather than pity, "The military wants you when you're young and healthy, but the minute you get hurt, they have no use for you and put you out."
He tried to get into acting, theater, and entertainment -- once again easily noticed for his incredible work ethic and likable personality -- but was taken advantage of by managers who made a quick buck off his talent, then moved on to the next hot thing.
He was even going through seminary school to be a pastor -- but once again, life threw him off track.
And at the end of his speech, he said, again, with no hint of self-pity, but rather a statement of what he saw as fact: "I am a failure. I have failed at every. single. thing I have ever tried."
That just broke my heart.
I wrote a message on his page trying to be encouraging, saying, "You did not fail!! You put everything you had into everything you've ever done, and God sees that. These weren't failures -- they were chapters in your life, and God surely has a new chapter for you."
I have been told more than once that I'm a failure at dating because I'm not married. But I've never seen it that way. I always saw dating as a learning process, and not everyone who goes to school will graduate with the same degree.
Like this young man, there's been a lot of things I've tried in life. Many things haven't worked out. Some things I lit on fire with my own decisions, whether for the good, or for the bad. And some things I might not have succeeded at, but I know God has forgiven me and graciously opens new doors.
My actions and decisions have failed in several areas, in several ways, and several times over. But I don't believe that God sees me a as a failure.
How about you?
* How do you define failure? Do you see yourself as having a lot of failures in your life? Are there any good things that have come out of them?
* What is the difference between HAVING failures -- and BEING a failure? How has God gotten you past the times people have told you that you've failed, or have flat-out called you a failure?
* How have you managed to get back up from failures?
* Spouses -- how do you manage your failures vs. your spouses failures? Do admit to each other you've failed, and/or point it out when the other one fails?
* Parents -- how do you manage failures regarding your kids? Do you tell your children when you've failed, and how do you teach them to do better?
* If a child has failed at something, how do you talk to them about it? Do you just tell them they have failed, or do you reframe it in a different way?
I was told in one church community that "God doesn't count how many times you fall down. He counts how many times you get back up."
* How do YOU handle falling down -- and how do you get back up?
I was listening to the story of a young man who was telling his life story. Although he was only 35, he said he'd already lived the lives of multiple men, and by the end of his talk, I more than agreed.
He grew up in a very poor, abusive household which already aged him well beyond his years. In high school, he was put on track to become a professional hockey player -- until an injury dashed his hopes. He went into the US military, hoping to make that into a career, but again, an injury ended his dreams. He said with great sorrow rather than pity, "The military wants you when you're young and healthy, but the minute you get hurt, they have no use for you and put you out."
He tried to get into acting, theater, and entertainment -- once again easily noticed for his incredible work ethic and likable personality -- but was taken advantage of by managers who made a quick buck off his talent, then moved on to the next hot thing.
He was even going through seminary school to be a pastor -- but once again, life threw him off track.
And at the end of his speech, he said, again, with no hint of self-pity, but rather a statement of what he saw as fact: "I am a failure. I have failed at every. single. thing I have ever tried."
That just broke my heart.
I wrote a message on his page trying to be encouraging, saying, "You did not fail!! You put everything you had into everything you've ever done, and God sees that. These weren't failures -- they were chapters in your life, and God surely has a new chapter for you." I have been told more than once that I'm a failure at dating because I'm not married. But I've never seen it that way. I always saw dating as a learning process, and not everyone who goes to school will graduate with the same degree.
Like this young man, there's been a lot of things I've tried in life. Many things haven't worked out. Some things I lit on fire with my own decisions, whether for the good, or for the bad. And some things I might not have succeeded at, but I know God has forgiven me and graciously opens new doors.
My actions and decisions have failed in several areas, in several ways, and several times over. But I don't believe that God sees me a as a failure.
How about you?
* How do you define failure? Do you see yourself as having a lot of failures in your life? Are there any good things that have come out of them?
* What is the difference between HAVING failures -- and BEING a failure? How has God gotten you past the times people have told you that you've failed, or have flat-out called you a failure?
* How have you managed to get back up from failures?
* Spouses -- how do you manage your failures vs. your spouses failures? Do admit to each other you've failed, and/or point it out when the other one fails?
* Parents -- how do you manage failures regarding your kids? Do you tell your children when you've failed, and how do you teach them to do better?
* If a child has failed at something, how do you talk to them about it? Do you just tell them they have failed, or do you reframe it in a different way?
I was told in one church community that "God doesn't count how many times you fall down. He counts how many times you get back up."
* How do YOU handle falling down -- and how do you get back up?
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