Mishaps

I grabbed the new pair of jeans out of my closet.
They have that nice dark wash…no faded knees.
I cut off the tag and I was ready to go.

Until I got downstairs.

One of my daughters was in the kitchen.
You look nice, Mom…as I walked into the room.
Uh…Mom…You still have the tag on your jeans.

I do?  I was totally confused at this point.
On the back…the size sticker…and another sticker. You forgot to pull them off.

That would have been very embarrassing.
We were getting ready to have friends over any minute.
I pulled the stickers off the jeans in an instant and thanked my daughter.
We laughed at what could have been.

Mishaps.

Having a piece of broccoli stuck in your teeth.
Forgetting to snap or button or zipper something.
Tripping over nothing as you walk down the street.

The little things that happen…making sure we do not take ourselves too seriously.
We all have those “cringe” moments.
The ones we can easily recall.
The ones that still make us grimace a little bit.

Like leaving the supermarket with a cart load of groceries.
Paper towels and larger items on the bottom of the cart.
Someone honking the horn…and pointing.
There behind me was a Hansel and Gretel trail of groceries that had fallen from a bag.

Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…(Romans 12:1-3)

We are always so worried about appearances.
When in reality, a good laugh over our mishaps would be far better.

Our mishaps can actually humble us…if we are teachable.

I wanted cleats on the heel of my shoe when I was in seventh grade.
They were metal and helped to protect the shoe from wearing down.
Seemed like a good idea in theory.
Not a great idea on linoleum floors.

All eyes were on me as I walked to the front of the room to give my oral report.
I loved the way the cleats sounded on the floor.
I was so sure of myself.
The floor was a bit too slippery…and down I went.

Mishaps.
In the scheme of things…insignificant.
At the time…devastating.

Are we full of ourselves or full of HIM?
Are we caring what we look like or caring what HE looks like in us?

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:6,10)

If we are really teachable, we will empathize with someone else’s mishaps.
Not in a “better you than me” attitude.
Rather, in a “I understand. I’ve been there, too” attitude.

One-anothering…through the mishaps as well.
Lending a hand.
Saying you understand…and meaning it.

Life would be boring if it went along swimmingly.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.”
“Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-33)

Peter’s mishap actually strengthened his faith.
When he took his eyes off Jesus, and saw the wind, he sank.
Even though Peter sank, we have to remember that Peter HAD walked.

Jesus is there in our mishaps…ready to reach out His hand to us at our first cry.
It is in the mishaps that we see Him more clearly.
It is in the mishaps, we know how much we need Him.

It was in Peter’s mishap that the disciples saw Jesus for who He really is: the Son of God.
And they worshiped Him.

That is a good thing.