As Tracy and I drew closer to today, we continued to look for names for our new daughter. Through each new child’s impending birth we struggled to make sure the name had meaning and significance. One day while reading through Herbert Lockyear’s “All the Women of the Bible,” I came to the name Abigail where it was subtitled: “The woman with beauty and brains.” That settled it for me. I probably became a bit pushy, but it seemed to click with Tracy also. I let her pick the middle name! As I watched her grow up, I saw God fulfill the words of that subtitle. However, as is true of God, he gave us much more than just the basics. Abbey is all those things, but she is also multi-talented and much like her mother. I find no need to elaborate!

Abbey has always been one of those children who seemed to make the “right” choice when faced with a decision or a new phase of her life. It’s funny how as parents we seem to somehow feel as if this was due to good upbringing or a strong Christian family.  The reality is that each child’s God imparted uniqueness has more to do with it than good parenting. Because of Abbey’s early successes with school and other activities she was continually praised. As she got older the decisions became heavier as she tried harder and harder to insure she never made a “bad” decision. I am sure her self-inflicted pressure as immense. To heavy a weight for most of us.

While some of you can make a mistake and simply move on, that would induce a fair amount of stress if you asked that of her. So as we consider a concept, I want you to know that some of you will accept it better than others. Each of us possesses a bit of perfectionism, but the greater that trait, the less willing you may be to see a God’s special gift to you. The gift is in the wording of Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Now, granted, that is not very encouraging, I know. However, let’s look at what it means in today’s language. The Greek word teleios does NOT mean flawless. According to Strong’s Concordance it means brought to an end, finished, complete, full grown or mature. Nowhere is there an indication that you perform flawlessly, day in, day out.

Each of you has been promised that: “his compassions never fail. They are new every morning,” and that His “grace is sufficient” to cover ALL your sins. However, how you apply that makes all the difference in the world. Paul tells us we are not to squander the grace in Romans 6: 11 – 18, so we are to make our choices thoughtfully. However, what concerns me about some of you is that you take your mistakes TOO seriously. If God is willing to cast them into the “sea of forgetfulness,” (Micah 7:19) who are you to question His grace? You have no right to continue dredging them up over and over again. Here is your litmus test: Do you love Jesus? Are you committed to a life in His Kingdom? Are you sorry for your mistakes? Are you learning, growing and getting better through those mistakes? Are the gaps between them getting bigger? Then, don’t worry. You are on the Highway to Heaven. Just keep the love and the attitude of gratitude. You are loved and forgiven.

Love Dad