I read something I really needed to this morning… and as I sat there letting the message of the reading sink in, I realized a good friend would also benefit from reading it. So this is dedicated to my friend, she knows who she is.

I learn honest through dishonesty, tolerance through intolerance, patience through impatience. -Anonymous

Sometimes we have to see ourselves in action before our character defects become glaring enough to do something about them. While we may abhor our dishonesty, intolerance, impatience and our other selfish traits, without them we wouldn’t know the joy of having them replaced with honesty, tolerance, and patience.

God is willing to help us with our shortcomings, but the amount of help we get is related to how sincere we are in asking for them to be removed. When we are thoroughly dismayed by our attitudes and actions, we are closer to being entirely ready to have God remove our defects of character.

Today I’ll pay special attention to recogninzing my character defects so I can learn from them.

I really love the second line in the reading where we’re reminded that if we didn’t have the defects, we wouldn’t recognize the joy of living with the corresponding asset. And I do believe that our character defects are only assets gone awry over the years. They all served us for a time - we needed them at some point to feel safe, but today they just don’t serve me any more. I know better, healthier ways to stay safe that don’t involve engaging in compulsive behaviors - what a gift that is.