This morning I was lounging in bed after nursing the baby, watching him play and scoot around. He would crawl over to me, stand up, then let go and balance for a moment before plopping down on his little bottom. I’ve seen him do this before. But he never seems to be discouraged by his repeated failures. He doesn’t seem to feel that his task is impossible. He just keeps trying. One of these days he’ll start walking, and the effort to get there will be long forgotten.

I couldn’t help but compare his tenacity to my own. How often I think I’d like to learn something new, only to quit after experiencing failure a time or two. Learn a new language! (*plop*) Lose weight! (*plop*) Keep the house tidier! (*plop*) Read that camera instruction manual! (*plop*) Learn to write poetry! (*plop*) Learn to play the guitar! (*plop*)

It’s easy to explain away my failures. After all, maybe my metabolism is too slow, or my brain is too old, or I don’t have enough free time, or best of all, it’s not my spiritual gift!

But maybe I just need to keep trying.

My father says, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly….until you can learn to do it well!”

None of us likes failure. But if we can view our attempts and failures as part of the road to success, maybe we will be more encouraged.

Come along with me and let’s take baby steps!!!