"Lesson learned."

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 50 -

Most of the lessons we learn, take time.  It's a process.  You learn them in a classroom setting:  at church,  at home,  at work,  at play.  There are countless venues.   Sometimes lessons are passed along to you as wisdom:  "something you ought to know" -- perhaps from the Bible, someone's memoirs,  a textbook, magazine or manual.  It may be delivered word of mouth -- from Mom & Dad,  an inspiring teacher,  coach or mentor,  a business colleague,  a spiritual advisor,  a friend.  Sometimes, we don't learn from others, we learn the hard way -- from mistakes.   We're all constantly learning, aren't we?

What a difference it is between 

knowing something in your head 

and actually doing it -- and doing 

it well, no less -- not to mention 

consistently! 

I'll never forget studying for my investment advisor's license.  I studied hours upon hours for several months.  Finally, I took the exam and passed with flying colors.  Then I got the job.  That was an entirely different story.  I found out real fast that I knew little to nothing.  My test score couldn't help me,  but "on-the-job training"  changed all that.   It gave me the opportunity to take all that I had learned and put it into practice. Once I knew what I was doing, I did it over and over again, improving and fine tuning along the way.

Have you ever watched a movie and then seen the same movie in 3D?  That's what I'm talking about. -- Big difference!  Or what about watching the Super Bowl on an old 18" color television verses on the newest 70" flat screen t.v. with high definition.  My, my... today's state-of-the-art televisions make you feel like you're right there on the sidelines with your favorite team.


So here's a little something that most people don't know about me.  I'm a little bit sensitive when it comes to major corrections.  Little things, common everyday things, obvious corrections -- no sweat!

When it comes to fine tuning, 

correcting is necessary in order to go from  

GOOD  -->  to BETTER  -->  to BEST!  

 I was brought up with high standards.  

If you're going to do something,  

you do it well and with excellence.

I was also taught to do things right the first time and to perfect it, if need be, thereafter.  That said, I usually put everything I have -- 100% -- into whatever I do.  I never just throw something together, toss it out there and hope people won't notice its inferior quality.  Where all that came from... I don't know.  I just know I've been like that for as far back as I can remember.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I'm a perfectionist.  No, I'm far from perfect.  In fact, as I've gotten older, I've become an advocate of mistakes.  People shouldn't  be afraid to make mistakes.  Some of my greatest seasons of growth started with a mistake.   I've also learned that there are some things that aren't as important as others.  In those situations, GOOD is more than acceptable!

I guess I've just learned to always give my best effort at whatever I set out to do.   Colossians 3:23 says...

"Whatever you do, 

work at it with all your heart 

as working for the Lord, 

not for human masters..."

The benefit of all that is that I don't get corrected a lot.  I work really hard not to.  I put everything I've got into things so that people will be pleasantly surprised right up front at the beginning.  The downside is that every once in a blue moon, I totally miss it!  I thought I knew what we were aiming for, and I was wrong.  The person I was working for was expecting something entirely different than what I gave them.   Whether it was miscommunication, poor listening on my part, or a blind spot -- I missed it!  Yeah... I really don't like when that happens.  It's like crashing into a brick wall.  It hurts, to say the least.

In times like that I'm genuinely grieved.  I say, "I'm sorry,"  swallow my pride and usually and have a good cry in my prayer closet where I talk it out with the Lord.  He always steers me right, then He pushes me right back out there.  No wallowing allowed!  You can't let the devil get his foot in the door.  You can't harbor grudges.  You can't take offense.  What you can do...  what I can do... is work on making it right.  With God's help, I can do that.

"I can do all this through Him 

who gives me strength."

Philippians 4:13

So today, I jumped out of bed, got dressed, and stepped out the front door in my RED shoes, ready to make some necessary changes.

Gail