Foot in mouth disease

So you stuck your foot in your mouth again, or you blew it, or you made a mistake, and somebody corrected you.. 

Now what… What’s next? 

This isn’t just your story, this is also my story.  I too have made mistakes, and stuck my foot in my mouth.

When that happened, my immediate reaction was to feel defeated, ready to give up, to pack it in.  All I saw in the moment was a glowing neon sign flashing “FAILURE!”.  It was easy to dwell there, mesmerized by the flashing neon sign.  But in transparency as I shared what had happened with a friend, with gentle words, he tore my gaze away from the flashing neon sign, to gaze on the cross.  Tentatively, afraid that I might be condemned, I looked at the cross.  Instead of finding judgment, I was reminded that I was not the first person to have made a mistake, to have stuck my foot in my mouth.  The stories of Abraham, Moses, David, and Peter floated through my mind.  I heard Jesus saying to Peter – “Do you love me?” … Then I heard those same words spoken to me – “Do you love me?”  Humbly, I asked for God’s forgiveness, and then I heard him say – “as far as the east is from the west, so far is this mistake taken from you”, and I knew that I was forgiven.  Knowing that I was forgiven, I picked up the phone and confessed that I blew it, and asked for forgiveness from my friend.

Then I took a sideways glance, and saw that flashing neon “FAILURE!” sign again. Now what? –I just wanted to give up, I was just going to keep messing things up.  Once again a word written by somebody who didn’t even know my situation turned my eyes back to the cross.  But the cross was gone, and in its place stood my risen Savor! He was asking me to “feed his sheep”.  As I reflected on Peter’s life – I realized that even though he made mistakes, Peter was used by God to feed his sheep; I also realized that Peter’s mistakes did not stop God from forming the early church. In that instant I was filled with peace and joy!  I knew that God was still building his Kingdom!  In humility, having learned my lesson, knowing that I was forgiven, knowing that I am loved, I press on to feed his sheep.

So, what about you? – Will you admit your mistake to God and to your friend?  When you do, turn your eyes on Christ, and look full on His wonderful face and you will hear Him say “your sins are forgiven, go and feed my sheep”.  Now, join with me in pressing on, in putting one foot in front of the next, and continue to feed his sheep.