Do you have to be perfect?

Do you have to be perfect?

by Joel Howard

When trying something new

When living something fresh

We all want to give it our best

In fact, some would rather not proceed

Unless we can do it all perfectly! 

Perfection, perfection

Right next to comparison

Is our worst weight we carry night and day

To get, not to give

To earn, to deserve

We spin and we swerve - failure to deter

So as my young daughter enters her milestone 

And as I set forth on adventures of my own 

And as I encourage my friends with the same I ask,

"Do you have to be perfect?" 

And before we begin it 

May God's special mercy guarantee that we'll win it

Not for who we are because of what we do

But for what our best failures transform us into! 

We don't have to start perfect, and friend, that means you!