Soft, pliable dough squishes through my fingers as I massage it into a round ball. Pleasure sings in my heart as I sense the smoothness of it under my rolling pin. Using the right amount of pressure, I stretch the elastic mass at different angles, slowly forming it into a circle. I drape the unwrinkled sphere over the rolling pin and carefully lift it over the waiting pie plate, then gently let it fall into place. As I pinch the edges, my mind recalls when I first learned how to make pie crust.

It wasn’t pretty.

On another Thanksgiving Day, and newly married, I wanted to make a Key Lime pie for my husband.

The tangled dough flew across the kitchen and collided with the cupboard door with a dull thud. Tears flowed down my tormented face as I picked it up off the floor, feeling foolish. Breathing deeply several times, I began again.

My mother was an excellent cook and baker. As a young girl, I would sit in rapt attention as she, magically, or so it seemed, made bread, pies, cakes, stews, soups, biscuits, etc. She made it look so easy and found great joy in doing it.

My mom never intentionally taught me how to cook and bake. I learned from watching and asking her for tips, and lots of practice. I also grew up to never waste food. So, when things didn’t turn out, my need for perfection warred with my need to not waste. Then serious frustration, anger and disappointment in myself flared.

This is often how I feel when learning new things, especially technology. I want to do or create what I am working on perfectly, the first time. But I have learned not to throw my laptop, it is too expensive to replace. I also learned patience and practice are necessary to succeed at most things.

Knowing this, why does it still rankle us to have to ask for help or instruction? Because we want to be in control, to be the best, perfect. Asking for help makes us feel vulnerable and less than. We feel insufficient and lacking.

Perfectionism is a belief in our own ability. Through striving, hard work and our own intelligence, we believe we can achieve the love, acceptance and glory we deserve and long for. We can become like gods in the eyes of others,

The belief we can ever be perfect in our own strength is a lie from the enemy. There has only ever been one perfect being, Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God in human flesh.

When we put our admiration, love, trust and hope in anyone or anything else, as perfect as they appear, we set ourselves up for disappointment and heartbreak.

It is good to do our best, work hard and strive to honour God with our lives, but He does not expect perfection because He knows us to our core. That is why He sent Jesus. The LORD knew we needed help and a perfect example of how to live. The dough of our efforts to follow in our own strength will always crumble and tear. But the Holy Spirit is there to pick up the pieces and help us create something better in His power. If we let Him. Things always go better with God than on our own.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Psalm 34:8 ESV

When we taste the goodness of God in our lives, nothing else will compare. He is trustworthy, compassionate and loving. Perfection!

As Sisters in faith, let us give thanks for Him and the gifts of His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. If you have not tasted the goodness of God and the freedom found in Jesus, why not do so today? You will be so thankful you did!

Be well!

Patricia