Not long ago, a friend of mine had surgery and needed to spend some additional recovery time in a rehabilitation center. I wondered how she was handling being away from her family so long, so I decided to schedule a visit to help lift her spirits.
I decided to bring her a gift. Perhaps a book with a captivating story and positive message would help keep her mind off her troubles.
The smile on my friend’s face when I walked into the room warmed my heart. We spent a few minutes chatting about the progress of her recovery. She mentioned how it was hard to be confined to bed, but she was making the best of it.
After some small talk, I handed her the colorful gift bag. Peering inquisitively into the sack, she reached inside and pulled out her gift. “Thank you so much, Rae Lynn! This will really help pass the time.” Mission accomplished! I was positively beaming to know that she liked her gift.
She then took a second look inside the bag and to my surprise pulled out another item. Oops. (Note to self: If you are going to recycle a bag, make sure the bag is empty.)
My friend offered more thanks, although I must say she looked a bit confused by her little bonus gift. Neatly enclosed in Saran wrap was a chocolaty covered treat about two inches square.
Allow me to explain. The gift bag was taken from a Christmas party I attended the day before. Because I was too full to eat my dessert at the actual party, I brought home my tasty treat to save for later. Apparently, I stuck the treat in the gift bag and forgot about it. I could feel my face growing flush with embarrassment but secretly hoped my friend wouldn’t notice.
I should have apologized to her and explained what had happened, but instead I tried to play it off as though the whole thing was intentional. I said something about how institution food can be really awful and thought this was a little something she could enjoy. As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a stab of conviction in my heart. I spoke a bold face lie!
“You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.” (Psalm 69:5)
Accidentally leaving something in a gift bag was not a sin; so why did I feel the need to cover it up? In a word—pride. I didn’t want my friend to realize the bag had been recycled.
Let me offer a lesson that I’m still in the process of learning myself. It’s okay to admit that we are not perfect. It is okay to make mistakes and let others know about it. What is not okay is to make a mistake and then lie about it. Making mistakes doesn’t make us weak; it makes us human. The only one who is perfect is God. That’s why we desperately need Him each and every day.
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” (2 Samuel 22:31-33)
I’m not perfect and never will be—but that’s okay. I have a perfect Father who loves me despite my flaws and that’s good enough for me.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)