About the little mores…

I opened Roy Lessin’s book Today is Your Best Day the other morning and these words jumped out at me:

Today is your best day because you can grow a little more in your faith, a little more in your maturity, and a little more in your intimacy with Jesus.

Hmm. A little more. Reading that reminded me how often I want more from myself when it comes to my faith and maturity: more wisdom, more discipline, more knowledge, more belief, more patience… I could go on and on. I tend to expect a lot from myself and sometimes I get caught in the lie that God looks for perfection. I get frustrated when I feel I’m not quite there yet.

But that quote was such an important reminder that life isn’t about achieving the little mores and the end result.

It’s about the process of getting there, bit by bit.

It’s about the growth and lessons we experience along the way.

It’s about the change that takes place in our hearts when we truly understand who Jesus is and what He did for us.

It’s about grace.

It’s just like how we are with our kids: When my son makes his bed on his own, but the covers are wrinkled and crooked, I don’t tell him that it looks messy; I praise him for getting it done and my heart smiles at the fact that he tried. When God sees our efforts to pray and learn more about Him and believe and trust, even if we falter or doubt sometimes, and even if we make mistakes, He smiles at our trying.

Life isn’t about God measuring us and our efforts; it’s about Him loving us.

It’s about Him gently teaching us and showing us how to be more like Him.

Today isn’t my best day because I’m already everything I hope to be.

It’s my best day because I’m growing.

I’m becoming.

I’m moving and learning and taking steps toward being the person God created me to be.

And when we look at things from that perspective, even stressful, disappointing, or hard days can be good. Because during those days, we sometimes see God the clearest and our intimacy with Jesus deepens as we curl up in His grace.

And that always makes us our best.

What about you? Are you in a place of learning, growing, and drawing closer to God right now? What have been your best days?