Learning to laugh at myself

Good morning! I hope you are enjoying this long Labor Day weekend.

Have you ever had one of those days were your mind just seemed to be absent from your body? Yesterday was one of those days for me. A question about a lunch appointment got me confused. While preaching I attributed the Biblical story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife to Daniel (the danger of public speaking is that a lot of people got to hear that one). I continued by referring to my brother-in-law, who was in town visiting, by my other brother-in-law’s name.

Days like yesterday leave us with a choice. Will we allow these “bloopers” to get us discouraged or can we learn to laugh at ourselves?

In the book of Job we read the dialogue between Job and his three friends during his time of suffering. Many of their words were accusatory in nature and not of much comfort; however, there are some nuggets of truth in their counsel. This is one such example:

Job 8:21 (NLT)
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

When we allow God to give us a proper perspective on life, He gives us a different view of our “blooper” reel as well.

For most of us, the hardest person to extend grace to is ourselves. We are our own worst critic, and if left unchecked we can develop a defeatist attitude. When we begin to look at our life through God’s eyes, we see through eyes of grace. Our mistakes become times to learn, evaluate and even laugh.

This week I want to challenge you to not take yourself so seriously. You are still a work in progress and you will more than likely have your fair share of missed lines, disconnected thoughts and other absent minded moments in the years to come. Don’t let these become issues of defeat, but instead let them be a chance to be thankful for God’s divine presence in your moments of frailty.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl