The perception of perfection.

It’s everywhere, isn’t it? Perfection? It’s not just on commercials or magazines. It’s all around us. And with this “perfection” comes judgment. Lots and lots of judgement. Not just from other people either. No no, I’d say at least 80% comes from inside our own minds. Mine does anyway! It starts with a small criticism or an innocent suggestion and culminates into this incredibly jumbled ball of everything we think we are supposed to be but are not.

When I was a kid, I loved to watch old shows on tv. I’m talking black and white shows such as Father Knows Best, I Love Lucy, and Leave it to Beaver (if you follow me, you knew that one was coming). One of the best parts was the commercial breaks they took! The star of the show would just walk over and tell you why they loved a product. They would show the product and say it was something they recommend. Done. Nothing fancy. Nothing tricky. No promise of perfection if you used it. Just this is who sponsored us, this is what they make and this is what it does. Oh, and I’m famous so you can trust me.

Brands were tangible items you could hold in your hand. Not something you aspired to label yourself as. Because people just weren’t feeling the pressure to sell themselves on so many levels. But now?! Want to look successful? Buy this house (you may not be able to afford) and drive a car you have no business buying (or leasing) so that everyone thinks you’re just like them or BETTER. It’s all competition now. But who are we competing with? Certainly not each other, not the real people. Just the perceptions we hold of them for comparison purposes.

Want to be a good mom? Make every meal gluten free, organic, whole food only and I’m talking everything from SCRATCH! You are supposed to be a ketogenic vegan and understand what that means. Teach your children languages, have them in art and music plus as many sports they can fit into a schedule. Have them potty trained by 2 years and sleep trained by 2 weeks! Be at every game even if your younger children aren’t feeling well or will be up way beyond the bed time you established when you were trying to be a good mom in the first place! Good moms chant,”Down with big pharma!” But they also chant,”Herd immunity!” Immunizations alone have divided families and friends. It can be so confusing seeking perfection.

The problem is, our world is far from perfect. It is broken. It is ugly. And it is filled with sin. Personally, I hate big pharma but I still take my Prozac every other day. I would rather take a tiny pill than to release the kraken anytime a heat wave of hormones washes over me. And I don’t really care who judges me for it. Just put on a robe and grab a gavel! I’ll wait. I also use nutritional supplements and love meditation. I’m starting yoga (pray for me) and I lean on the Lord for answers.

He is perfection. He is the one true judge. He made me just the way I am and loves me! He loves me fat, thin, young and old. He loves me tired or energized. But I do want to make Him proud. So I practice compassion over comparison and peace over perfection. This is the mom I want my kids to see. The one I want them to have. The one I want them to remember. I want them to remember the weird cookies I tried baking in efforts to implement healthier choices. But I also want them to remember sometimes we trashed those and baked from the back of the tollhouse bag. And y’all I’m not gonna lie, those cookies actually ARE perfection!

Job 39:13