Failure happens. Not just for some people, but for everyone. The question is: Will we choose to have an optimistic outlook about failure. Are you OK with failure? Or are you hiding your failures in an attempt to look perfect? Let’s get real and be honest. Failure can be the best thing that ever happened to you.
I’m No Donna Reed
Feeling particularly industrious one day I decided to take the roma tomatoes from my little garden, peel them (this took forever!) and make marinara sauce. I put the tomatoes, onions, peppers and various Italian seasonings in the crockpot to cook on low overnight.
Trying it the next morning it tasted bitter, so I added a little sugar (my Grandma always put a little sugar in EVERYTHING!) and some more seasonings. That night at dinner I served my family ravioli and “marinara” sauce. They were silent as they ate and after I took one bite I said, “I’m just gonna throw this out there. This is the worst sauce I have ever tasted!” We all started laughing.
And that’s not my only homemaking failure:
Making liquid hand soap: This was a great idea from my sister Alison. But mine was too runny, or too thick, it dried out your hands, and squirted you in the face coming out of the pump. I’m not kidding!
Making laundry soap: I got this idea online. I was determined to make this work because it’s incredibly cheap. But no luck. It turned all of my whites a dirty yellow color—back to Tide and Downy for me.
Baking soda: Just in case you’ve ever wondered, baking soda is a necessary component in BAKING. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
Failures CAN Lead to Success
Usually we tend to cringe when considering our failures—especially when they’re more painful than simple homemaking mishaps. Failing the people we love most can be heartbreaking, but don’t give up. Failures CAN lead to success.
“Failures are the fingerposts on the road to achievement.” —C.S. Lewis
Angry outbursts or unkind words—an opportunity to build relationship through honest repentance and kindness.
Misplaced priorities—a chance to consider your values and learn to set boundaries.
Getting fired—an opening to passionately pursue your strengths and develop perseverance.
The path to success is often peppered with mistakes and mishaps. Facing the adversity of failure will enable you to cultivate resilience, creativity, maturity and character.
“Not only so, but we also boast in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces patience, patience produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5).
Ultimately, failure can lead us to the realization that true success is in knowing the depth of God’s love for us and sharing that love with others.
Are you OK with failure? How has failure lead to success in your life?
Angela Howard is an author and minister who loves empowering people with authentic encouragement and Biblical perspective for their imperfect lives. Her book: How to Love Your Crazy Family is on Amazon and you can connect with her on her blog at noordinarydays.com.
