We All Make Mistakes

Good Morning

It’s a new day and a clean slate. Will I get through without messing up? Hmm, I doubt it! Last month the Jewish High Holy Days came to a close with Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). It marked the end of ten days reflection; reviewing the past year and asking forgiveness. ‘Where did I mess up? How could I have done better? Will others forgive me?’ During that time: ‘Avinu Malkeinu, chatanu lefanecha’, (Our Father our King, we have sinned before you) was a familiar daily prayer. It sounds really heavy stuff, but is it?

A moment’s reflection reveals that mistakes are something we all do. I take great comfort that even the great among our biblical ancestors; Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Miriam for instance, were fallible human beings. They earned their place in history by what they did or sometimes failed to do. There is value in knowing that. They were human just like us. This isn’t a Jewish or a religious thing and it isn’t about beating yourself up, it’s about acknowledging mistakes, spotting ways to avoid them in future and becoming your best self. That also means knowing your strengths too. Asking others to forgive you is important but there’s one important person you mustn’t leave out: yourself!

Lord, kindly forgive our mistakes both in the past and in the future. Grant us clarity to see what we can change and patience to work on what we can’t. Give us the grace to forgive ourselves acknowledging too, what we also do well.

Amen