Imperfections

Being happy does not mean that everything is perfect.

It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

I found that thought back in December. I thought how true it is, no one is ever going to be perfect. We are all going to have our shortcomings, or weaknesses. However, if we can look past other people's imperfections, whether they be displayed in their overall character, choices made, or in a moment, we can usually find more positive strengths than weaknesses!

I think there is a very rare occasion when you look past some one's weaknesses, or bad choices, and you end up finding nothing positive remaining. Truthfully, when someone displays a weakness in their character, or behavior we should exercise charity, and give them the benefit of the doubt. We all have our bad days, we all make bad decisions, and we don't always agree with each other. However, everyone has good, and very rarely do you find someone who doesn't contribute more good to your life than bad.

Imperfections and friendship has been on my mind a lot this week. Largely due to my own shortcomings, and my own bad decisions, I have lost a friend. I keep wondering, do my positive qualities, character traits, and contributions to their life not outweigh immensely my momentary lapse in judgement? I am struggling that all that is good and positive about me is being thrown to the wind because of a lapse in my judgement, even after a very heart felt apology.

I had a big moment of imperfection, but I feel my positive characters traits that have been present for years, and displayed for many years should counteract that moment. And this friendship should not be gone! I feel unfairly judged and tossed aside based on a bad choice, in a moment of my weakness getting the best of me!

I wonder have I often done the same to my friends. Have I ever judged and tossed to the side a friend because they had a few imperfections, bad decisions or other display of shortcomings? I hope that I have not. If I have, I am sorry. I feel like I am a pretty loyal, trustworthy, respectful, enduring, forgiving, and supportive friend. I felt pretty secure in my ability to look past imperections and bad choices, and my ability to forgive and support my friends. However, now having had this experience, it is even more important to me to be forgiving and charitable to friends. No one is perfect, and we all need a little mercy at times. We all deserve to be imperfect, and still have our good found and appreciated!!