Hello. My name is Christie Elkins. And I am a perfectionist.
Allow me to take you on a small tour of my home:
(Not pictured: Overflowing recycle bins, unwashed cloth diapers with unknown contents, and children with PB and J faces. Oh, and don't forget sticky fingerprints on the table).
You would never know a perfectionist lives here, huh? I am totally drowning in this week. I am so far behind on laundry, cleaning, folding, and smiling. That's right. Smiling. I have been a total grouch.
A huge problem for me is comparison. I want to be the BEST. AT. EVERYTHING. The most awesome, attractive wife. The "cool" "fun" mom. The most encouraging friend. I want to have the whitest teeth (No joke. I have an unhealthy obsession with oral hygiene). An inspiring blogger and novice child photographer. I appreciate things like prose void of grammatical error, words spelled correctly, the "good kind" of dental floss, and all the labels of the canned food facing forward. But when I can't be the best, I fall apart. I let everything go, drown in my own self pity, and eat a LOT of chocolate (Note: This post brought to you by Milky Way Simply Caramel).
And in so doing, my house ends up looking like an episode of Hoarders minus the eighteen cats.
But, I take solace in knowing that I am a work in progress. Yes, my kids will whine during church and you will see me getting up. A LOT. Yes, I am behind on my son's baby book (Notice I didn't mention which son. Because I'm behind on both...). Yes, sometimes all the time I wear the same clothing a few days in a row (Mostly jeans. Trying to cut down on that laundry.) And yes, I keep my poor husband awake until well after midnight, crying about petty, stupid things when all I need to do is read and dwell on this:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Guess that makes me a beautiful mess.
But to be His work in progress?
I'll take it.
20 comments:
girlfriend...you are not alone in this and I love the verse! I always say I am a recovering perfectionist!!! You are beautiful! Thanks for being raw!
Sounds like you need me and Moriah to come over and help clean.
I just love this.
So awesome! You wrote this so well. Love it.
Love your honesty! I can definitely relate! The Lord has brought me through my battle with perfectionism, stripping one piece of it away at a time. Now I see it, but it doesn't mess me like it use to. Continue to seek the Lord for His perspective. It will change your life.
By His Grace,
Lisa
www.moretobe.com
Loved this...so much. Maybe because I am that perfectionist, too. ;)
Wow. Love, love, love your honesty!!! Makes me so want to hang out with you in person! Thanks!
don't know you, but found you through write it girl...and even though i'm not a mom or wife, i feel you. there is comfort in knowing that God has got me....even in my mess. man. so comforting. thanks for sharing! :)
I think I still battle perfectionism. It's hard for me to do anything because I have so much to do and can't do any one thing perfectly. My house is a disaster. I'd better get moving and find my MOJO!
I'd like to personally thank your sponsor, Milky Way for this true and hits close to home post.
Me and my M&M's send you a great big hug! And thanks for linking up.
Found you through Write It Girl and I have to say I wish I knew you lived in my town, because we would be good friend. LOVE this post. It made me laugh out loud. Hang in there, it does get easier as they grow older. Think you found your writing voice with this post!
I think we're twins, separated at birth.
I'm there with you...and I've been wanting to post pics of my messy house too, just can't get organized enough to take the pictures...haha. How's that for perfectionism! (Why the heck would I need to get organized to take messy pictures! Oh, the irony.)
Thank you for sharing, and for linking up!
Thank you for sharing this! I was really blessed to read your post!
Hi Christie. My name is Patti and I am your long lost twin sister. Who is much older than you. Although perhaps we're actually triplets since Miss Katie Orr appears to have made the same claim. As if.
Can I just say I love. This. Post. I've got all kinds of "YES!" going on. And you are a wonderfully engaging and funny writer who I am very glad to have found. You ARE beautiful, you're right about that!
Oh, I loved this! Girl, this is so much like my life that it's not even funny! it's a blessing to know that He's still working on us, isn't it? Thanks for your honesty, I needed this today! Visiting from Write it Girl :)
Ashlie
Ummm...we should really meet for coffee and chocolate and talk about how perfect our lives are. I carry toothpaste and toothbrush in my purse at all times...and there really IS a rignt kind of dental floss! What....you been readin' my journal entries lately???
Love this post. LOVE IT!
Bernadette...over from Ann's at www.thefreedomjournal.blogspot.com
hi from Ann's...great post...love the honesty...I don't want to be promoting my post...but it does dove tail into yours...
you are doing great...keep being honest...letting God take you on this journey...He has such freedom for us all...
Blessings to you...
I totally get this. :)
great/relatable post for all us mommy's!
Very relatable! Letting everything go is frustrating but it is for a reason. Sometimes we just need a break to rejuvenate, or to let our husbands know it's time for some help from him or a sitter.
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