You may already know this about me, but just so you know that I know, I’m not very good at a lot of things that I want to be good at.

Did you follow that? I’ll wait while you reread.

In each stage of life, including now, I’ve tried my best to be better than what I am. I have always wanted to be a better relative, friend, student, athlete, employee, employer, boyfriend, fiancée, husband, person, leader, neighbor, follower of Jesus, etc. Other than “jerk,” “moron,” or something along those lines, if I’ve had the label, I’ve wanted to be a better version of it.

I’ve let a lot of people down.

I have hurt a lot of feelings.

I have disappointed, discouraged, diminished, disparaged, dumped, and done many people wrong. (Yes, that was a lot of d-words.)

I’ve hurt people unintentionally and intentionally.

I’ve hurt people who probably never even knew it and people I probably didn’t realize.

I have received criticism to my face and probably 1000 times more behind my back: some I’ve deserved and some I haven’t.

I don’t know about you, but no matter how critical others are of me, I am always my worst critic.

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No matter how good I am or can be, I want to be better.

No matter how good I am, someone else wants me to improve.

I am blessed to be saved by grace and have a long ways to go, but I am grateful for every positive step I’ve made in becoming the man God created me to be.