My oldest son dutifully plucks out the notes to Amazing Grace as he practices his guitar lessons.

While I’m astounded by his natural propensity for music, he sometimes makes mistakes.

When he does, his first inclination is to scrunch up his face in disgust, roll his eyes, and groan loudly. Then he insists on starting all over again from the very first note.

But my husband and I encourage him to just keep playing.

In fact, often my untrained ear wouldn’t even notice the wrong note.

There is a chance he inherited these perfectionist tendencies from his mother.

But don’t we all want a do over every now and then?

Visit Liz at CreativeInspirationsatMyMessyDesk.com for a dose of encouragement.

During the “month of costumes,” I had some intriguing thoughts about a specific piece of costume that we wear.

You know, as a mother it can seem like our title ends at “butt wiper” or “short order chef.” Our tireless days and nights surround us endlessly and we can feel as if we are drowning in dirty dishes and laundry on a regular basis. We wear our sacrificed dreams and desires like a belt of honor and charge forward in the trenches of motherhood. However, there is so much more beneath the dirty nails and uncombed hair than we can see with the naked eye.

I must admit, I had grown comfortable in assuming that the calling of motherhood was all I needed to worry about for a while, but then I had a shift in my spirit. I thought to myself, “What kind of example of obedience am I setting for the sheep I am shepherding in my role as a mother?” This question really rocked me and catapulted me to where I am now. I realized that maybe I had been using my season as an excuse instead of fuel for the journey.

Check out the rest of the story by visiting JEBerrySpeaks.com.

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

I have a good friend who recently shared upon her retirement that she wished she had spent less time focusing on the ABC’s and more time focusing on the F’s. This I had to hear. In fact, I began taking notes as she talked.

She said, “you know we’ve spent our entire lives either trying to get A’s, B’s and C’s, or teaching the ABC’s to our students. What I wish I had done more of was focus on Faith, Family, Friends and Forgiveness.”

I took a few minutes to process what she was saying, and I can tell you when we discover a moment of clarity and hindsight, we become so much smarter.

Read the rest of the story at Peacefully Imperfect.

I’ve set goals and failed so many times, but last year I actually posted goals for the year on my refrigerator.  Believe it or not all of them were crossed off but two, and they are part of this month’s goals.  So I believe if I write them down it will be a constant reminder, keeping me focused, and I will get much more accomplished this year.

One thing  I want to remember though is that no matter what my goals are that they need to reflect God and whatever His intentions are for me each day.  If I don’t meet a goal it’s ok if it was directed at something He has intentionally assigned me today.  I want to keep my focus on Him so that I am not disappointed when a goal is not met.  I’ve fallen in that trap before.  I have plans and life happens, and that is what is important.

Learn more about these goals that would be great for you to implement by visiting Debbie Williams at Blogger Loves the King.