Shannon is a bargain shopper. By doing so, she tells me she’s saved us a fortune. If that is true, where’s all this extra money we’re supposed to have saved?
Last summer, Shannon brought home fourteen potted sticks she claimed were pink crepe myrtles. They had been on clearance in the garden section of HEB. Again, she explained how much money she had saved us.
Her vision was to have a row of fourteen pink crepe myrtle trees against the backyard fence. My job was to plant them.
I cannot begin to express how much fun I had planting fourteen pink crepe myrtle trees in August. Words escape me.
This year, the fourteen pink crepe myrtles bloomed. The problem is there are only thirteen pink crepe myrtle trees. One of them is lavender (light purple for guys from Texas). My perfect row of pink crepe myrtle trees is not perfect.
At first, this really stressed me out because I was going to have to dig up the purple crepe myrtle and replace it with a pink one. Then, my row of pink crepe myrtle trees would be perfect. But in life, what is perfect?
This got me thinking.
There is no such thing as the perfect country, marriage, company, career, job, person, church, house, husband, wife, son, daughter, grandparent, political party, politician, or row of fourteen pink crepe myrtle trees, the list goes on and on…. There will always be a flaw.
If you find yourself getting frustrated because something in your life is not perfect, know it never will be. But wouldn’t life be boring if everything was perfect?
Our job is to allow God to guide us through this imperfect world to his perfect love. All we have to do is love.
To those of us who live in an imperfect world filled with flaws, discrepancy, and sin, Peter says, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)
Don’t be frustrated by an imperfect life, rejoice in God’s perfect love. That’s what makes life worth living.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for loving me. Help me to love at all times, in all places, and to all people. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
As you get ready for this new day, know it won’t be perfect, but the One who is perfect loves you and is with you. That’s all that really matters.
The purple crepe myrtle is going to stay right where it is. I’m good with that.
Also, just for the record, did I tell you I planted fourteen pink crepe myrtle trees last August?
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 