By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
I was a little perplexed when I noticed the back section of our barely used leather recliner beginning to crack and peel. It was an eyesore! And, of course, it was out of warranty. All I wanted to do was cover it up. No, it wasn’t the end of the world, but it really bothered me. The rest of the recliner was still like new. It was just this one area that was problematic.
We tried draping a blanket over the back of the chair, but every time someone sat down, the blanket slipped off, revealing, once again, our unsightly blemish. How embarrassing!
We thought about having the chair repaired, but decided it would cost more than we were willing to invest. We needed a different solution—one that wouldn’t break the bank. After some careful deliberation, I had an idea. Maybe we could find a fitted cover (same color as the chair) to fit snugly around the back section.
I got online and found something that looked like it might work. I placed the order, crossed my fingers, and waited for the package to arrive. I even sent up a silent prayer… Please, Lord, let this work!
Two days later the package was delivered, and guess what? It worked perfectly. In fact, it looked like it had been part of the chair all along. Whew, problem solved!
There are far bigger problems needing to be solved in this world. But it did get me thinking: What other “flaws” have I’ve tried to cover up? Let’s see….
- Acne
- Wrinkles
- Cellulite
- Gray hair
- Age spots
- Dark circles . . .
Hi, my name is Rae Lynn, and I’m a recovering perfectionist. I don’t like it any more than you do. As the saying goes, perfection is my enemy. My perception of perfection is nothing but an illusion. When I try to achieve it, it’s just out of reach. Like a carrot being dangled in front of me, it keeps moving further and further away.
What is perfection? Who determines it? How do we get it?
I can answer all three questions with one word—God. God is perfect. He determines it. And He gives it freely, without hesitation, to all who accept His Son Jesus. Like our fitted chair covering, Jesus covers our flaws perfectly and makes us new.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)!
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him” (2 Samuel 22:31 NIV).
We don’t need to be perfect because our Heavenly Father is perfect. His covering is all we need.
