[245 words]
Men and women have long striven to be free from making mistakes. But the truth is, no one is exempt from slip-ups, errors and blunders. Not only are mistakes a fact of life, they are also good teachers.
Plutarch once said: “To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.”
The worst mistakes are those which are sinful. Of course, not all mistakes are sins. You hit your thumb with a hammer while doing some carpentry. That’s a mistake. It is painful but it is not a sin. But if you utter some cuss words after you hit yourself with that hammer, then that’s a sin (Ephesians 5:4, Colossians 3:8, and Proverbs 4:24).
The question is: what can we do when we make mistakes.
- If we have sinned against God or a someone else, we should ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9; Matthew 5:23-24).
- Accept and admit your mistakes. “A person who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if that person confesses and forsakes those mistakes, another chance is given” (Proverbs 28:13, TLB).
- Remember that you’re still worthy of good things despite your blunder (Acts 3:19).
- Learn from your mistake (Proverbs 21:11).
- Let it go and forgive yourself (Philippians 3:13-14). If God has forgiven you, you should forgive yourself and move on with your life.
Larry Fitzgerald
Woodlawn Church of Christ
Abilene, TX