{"id":246,"date":"2016-06-10T17:35:39","date_gmt":"2016-06-10T22:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/belovedlove.org\/reflections\/?p=246"},"modified":"2019-05-17T13:42:23","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T18:42:23","slug":"patience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belovedlove.org\/reflections\/2016\/06\/10\/patience\/","title":{"rendered":"Patience"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perfectionists<\/strong> are\u00a0 a restless lot. As a perfectionist-in-recovery, I am no expert on patience.\u00a0 Impatience?\u00a0\u00a0 Now that is something I know well.<\/h4>\n

Much of my life I have lived in the world of impatience.\u00a0 I am impatient for a project to be done, for people to hurry up and catch up, for the house to be perfect, my kids to be perfect, my husband to be perfect., and– most of all– for ME to be perfect.<\/p>\n

Every perfectionist is really hard on themselves, and I am no exception.\u00a0 I try-I really do-to correct all my imperfections, to achieve the elusive status of “perfect,” for once in my life.\u00a0 (I wonder what that might feel like?)\u00a0 Occasionally I get close, and have the momentary sense of satisfaction before the all-too-familiar restlessness returns.<\/p>\n

I am learning that perfection is such a hopeless goal, and it is so unnecessary:.\u00a0 The truth is, I am already perfect.\u00a0 God through Christ has made me that way.\u00a0 My\u00a0 job is to claim perfection for myself, not to create “perfection” in myself.<\/p>\n

\"Patience<\/p>\n

Patience takes root when I quit focusing on self-improvement.\u00a0 In fact, it really flourishes when I quit focusing on myself altogether, and<\/p>\n