Sometimes when you sit and reflect on your own shortcomings, you begin to feel God’s grace and can choose to give yourself the same grace He does. In my morning writing time, I wrote down “What is the difference between a goal and a rule?” That might seem silly to some, but I start each new day with rules. I need to make a shift to start each day with goals. Maybe you do, too. I looked up the difference in the definitions and the old third-grade teacher in me was beaming with pride as I was actually using a skill that I have taught a million times in my life.
When you don’t know, look it up. Most of the time, I go to the Bible to see what God’s word says when I’m allowing the other false information available to us today to cloud my vision. Today, I went straight to the dictionary… well, the digital version.
A goal is the result when effort is directed toward an end/aim. It’s also achievement toward that end. Thank you, Dictionary.com! This means that when I set out with a goal for the day (i.e. stay away from nachos), I know it’s a goal if I am putting effort toward achieving it by the end of the day today. If I make it to bed tonight and haven’t had a nacho, I can have a met goal celebration.
A rule is a regulation governing conduct or actions. Just the word “regulation” feels gross to me. I am a rule-follower by nature, but you know what? I don’t really love that about myself. I live a life of adhering to others’ rules, and while I have no plans to switch up and become a rebel starting today, I would rather live a life of freedom. You too?
So let’s decide… if just for today, you give yourself the same grace God does, how would that look? I’m not saying to go swimming in a tub of nachos cause who cares, but set one goal and work to achieve it. Celebrate if you make it. Give grace if you don’t. And maybe, just maybe, if we can learn to apply this goal/grace principle to ourselves, we will be able to love others better, as well.
Lyndie Metz 