Matching Pajamas and the Pursuit of Perfection

Happy New Year, everyone!
 I was putting away laundry today because apparently that's one of my new favorite pastimes, and I realized how pleased I was that my pajamas had been matched, folded, and put away in sets. Matching pajamas makes me feel good. In fact, I'm a little ashamed to admit that wearing unmatched pajamas makes me grumpy.  Joy was taking a nap, Grace was playing at her cousin's, and Faith was in school, so I had some time on my hands and started thinking.....
Why do matching pajamas make me feel so good. Then, it hit me! It's just another example of my desire  to do things the RIGHT WAY....in short, it's the perfectionist in me coming out.
Being a perfectionist is a good thing sometimes...it pushes me to do my best, to keep working when I'm tired, to go the second mile for people.  In fact, God asks us to seek perfection when He says, "Be ye holy as I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16) and "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).
However, this push for perfection is probably my greatest source of stress because with three little girls, church activities, a house to clean, meals to cook, activities to do, and places to be, I just can't get it all done all perfectly all the time (even with my wonderful husband who helps me a lot).  Typing that sentence makes me tired! The truth is, I'm not perfect and I can't be.  Even when God said to be holy, He was only asking us to reflect His holiness (NOT OUR OWN). It's on the days when I finally throw up my hands and admit in prayer, "God I can't do this on my own, I need help" that I'm able to understand what God wanted all along. You see, He doesn't care about matching pajamas, but He does care about me.  He sees all the striving that I do and then when I've run around in circles long enough, He gently says to me:

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So, in the new year, I'm going keep wearing my matching pajamas and keep pursuing perfection (Philippians 4:13), but I'm going to focus on the fact that perfection can only be found in Jesus--He is the perfect one and His grace is sufficient for me!