Good Ol’ Charlie Brown
Remember the story of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree? I got to thinking about it a little bit ago.
You know the story…probably better than I do.
Poor ol’ Charlie Brown couldn’t do anything right. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Everything he tried to do was wrong. No one ever gave him credit for doing anything right…not even for trying.
And Charlie kept trying. How many football seasons was he determined to impress the little Red Headed girl with that monstrous kickoff only to have Lucy pull the ball away from him at the last minute?
I’ve got a friend that kinda makes me feel like Charlie Brown sometimes. No matter what I try to do…it’s not right. I went to the grocery store recently with a list of about 30 things on it. I got every item on the list…except one. You think I heard a ‘thanks’ for getting the 29 things on the list? Nope. I was questioned on why I didn’t get the one item.
Kinda felt like Charlie Brown. I went to the grocery store. List in hand. Paid special attention to the list.
Stone Ground Mustard? Check.
Wal-Mart Brand LARGE plain yogurt? Check.
Whole Grain Bread? Check.
Etc, etc, etc.
Did my friend notice the things I DID get right? Nope. Only asked me about the one item that I left behind. I was feeling kinda proud of my ol’self that I had done good on the list…only to have the football pulled away from me at the last moment.
So what have I learned from this? Several things. First I’ve learned that I need to be like Charlie Brown. No matter how much fault people find with what I do, I need to keep coming back and trying…again…and again…and again. I also learned that, like Charlie, I need to quit expecting a pat-on-the-back from some people. Why expect something that time and experience has taught me I’m not gonna get. Only builds up the frustration.
Oh, I’ve thought about finding new friends. Folks that will smile at my honest efforts and acknowledge the 29 things I do right and ignore the one thing I messed up. But Charlie hangs in there with the same friends he’s had for years. I might as well do the same.
There’s always next football season to try again.
