Christian Living
Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday December 2, 2009
On Saturday I was attempting work in my home office when The Great Blonde sent her official summons to me to come to the TV room NOW. Being a wise man who has been a married servant for over 45 years I know the value of immediate response. This time it paid off.
The stated blonde was watching a program called Secrets of Success which interviewed Joel Osteen which I found theologically unenlightening. But then Chris Gardner was interviewed. You probably recall his book, "Pursuit of Happyness," which became a hit movie starring Will Smith. You really should read the book, see the movie or both. It's the story of Chris being all the way down and coming all the way up, while caring for his young child as a single father.
Chris made a statement that I especially need now and I am thankful for the summons from the Nordic Wonder. Chris said:
"It's okay to fail. It's NOT okay to quit."
As one reviewer wrote, "Pursuit of Happyness" tells of overcoming "soul sickening failure and defeat." I know about the kind of failures that feel like a horse kicking you in the stomach and they are soul sickening at best.
When you have failed so many times that you quit trying at that point you are beaten. If you no longer will risk failure you will never win, for you have to try to win.
If you try and fail enough you will learn what worked and do it with more gusto the next time around and thus failure is really a refining process for success. If you keep making the same mistakes you will keep failing. Simple. I wonder why some folks never learn this truth.
When I was young I worked in an organization that sold vacuum cleaners door to door. I never did very well at it, but I did learn some things along that short journey. A man by the name of Mr. Parquett, (I think that's the correct spelling) actually came to the United States via a banana boat. Along the way he got the opportunity to sell and over the course his career bought the company. He had a favorite statement which has stayed with me near half a century. I can still hear him at banquets and sales meetings stating in a shouting voice or more often a whisper:
"If you think you have failed you are right. Now learn."
Peter failed the Lord at the trial and crucifixion but after the resurrection an angel gave instructions to the disciples and specifically included Peter Mark 16:7:
"But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."
From this account we can take heart that in weakness God does NOT write us off and neither should we be in the hateful work of writing off others who fail, or heaven forbid, writing off our self. "It's okay to fail. It's NOT okay to quit."
Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 553 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Larry Lilly or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 553 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.