“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” –Proverbs 19:11
I ran across this quote from John Maxwell recently and I thought it was really good. It served as a good reminder for me. Maybe it will be a good reminder for you, too.
“Little progress is better than no progress at all. Success comes in taking many small steps. If you stumble in a small step, it rarely matters. Don’t gift wrap the garbage. Let little failures go.“ – John Maxwell
If there’s one lesson my wife has learned (with me) in our marriage, it’s this: “Let the little failures go.”
This week we celebrate our wedding anniversary! And if you know me, you would know how I’ve had to seek forgiveness from my bride many times over the years…she’s had to let a lot of my little failures go!
Now, don’t get me wrong—our lives aren’t filled with failure. (I’m a great husband in my opinion…) We are blessed beyond measure, 33 years is good evidence of this. But, like everyone else, whether married or single, we deal with people, coworkers, and spouses who occasionally do or say things that fall short of expectations—or are just downright disappointing.
The key is to keep making forward progress, to keep moving ahead even when we experience little failures. And then, before you know it, 33 wonderful years have passed!
How many times over the years have you heard sermons at church or discussed in conversations the power and danger of the words we speak, the importance of “taming the tongue” as it’s written in James 3. As James 3:2a reminds us, “We all stumble in many ways.” This is a reality we all face.
So, as you interact with coworkers, friends, and even your spouse, remember to “let the little failures go.” If there’s one thing we’ve all learned over the years, it’s that tomorrow can look very different from today. Don’t let the small stuff damage the great relationships you have at work or at home. Life, health and relationships are precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Proverbs 19:11 also speaks to this, saying, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” This verse is a powerful reminder that letting go of minor offenses isn’t just wise, it’s honorable.
Think and Pray:
Are you being critical of people (or a person) around you for minor things you consider failures? Maybe it’s time to ask the Lord to help you determine if this one of these “little failures” you need to let go. God, please bring me peace over the little things in life that seem big in the moment. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jay Emory is the President of BancFirst. He has been a financial professional for over 30 years. His stated purpose is to connect with men and women and impact their faith and financial lives through encouragement and connection. He also leads a CBMC Connect3 group at his office in Yukon every Wednesday morning.
