February 4, 2013

• The Benefit of Failure

  This last weekend, we spent the day at the home of a couple that are our good friends. We had all the boys, and luckily, their house has lots of open spaces. The boys ran around a lot and in general enjoyed the merriment of having indoor room to run. In addition to space, there were dogs! The boys love dogs. They had two chubbyish chihuahuas and their roommate had two dogs as well. I have no idea what kind.

  The adults had started playing a game (Dominion), and the kids were just generally frolicking from room to room when we heard Oliver really start crying.  He had been laying in one of the dog beds, (why are kids always into the dog beds and bowls, and etc.??) and the dog owner of that bed took offense to it and bit him on the hand.
  

  The dog was up to date on all of his shots, so we just took care of the bite and watched it closely. And the dog was put outside for the rest of the time we were there.  It is healing up nicely today, in case you were wondering. Everyone was wondering if this was going to make Oliver afraid of dogs. The surprising thing, it did not. He was back playing with the other dogs in no time and seems to be no worse for the wear.

  It reminded me of how Thomas and Elijah went out to play a couple weeks ago and I looked out the window to see them both up in the tree.  The same tree Elijah fell out of a couple months ago and broke a couple bones.   I was so glad to see I didn't have to make him climb it again, he did it of his own volition.

  How many times as adults do we fail at something, and then swear it off? Never doing that again. Once burned twice shy.   I've got to say, that's no way to live. We could take a lesson from Oliver and Elijah. (although Oliver should probably stay out of dog beds . . . .)  Failure doesn't have to be the end of something. It is just a step on the way. I've failed at a lot of things, personally, professionally, academically, and so on. I don't want everyone to know about all my failures, who does? The reality though, is that failing is a part of growing. No one really does something perfectly the first time they attempt it. In fact, in order to get really good at some things you have to practice and practice and keep trying after you keep failing.  Failing is how you learn to do it right. It's how you make progress.

  “I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
  – Michael Jordan

  I'll leave you with this cute picture of Isaac and Sophie, from my Sunday school class. Sophie likes to boss Oliver around and she gets really mad when he doesn't do what she says. This week she was SO good at sharing and being sweet, I told her, Sophie, "You are such a good helper today!" She replied I am!? and she grabbed Isaac right next to her and hugged him big.
  

  • 12:35 pm
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