Don’t Hide Your Mistakes
Covering it Up
Have you ever seen the movie “The Money Pit”? We’ve been living that movie for the past 4 years. I thank God we have a house. But let me tell you, this house we bought has been an absolute money pit. Before you buy a house, you’re required to have it inspected. The inspector we hired should never inspect another house again. This house has had so many hidden problems that were never uncovered. Even more sad, the problems that were in the home were many times covered up on purpose to save time, money, and to sell the house quickly without having to do what’s right.
Most recently, we wanted to replace the old outlets in our living room. The job would be a few hundred dollars. One visit later it had turned into a $7,000 job. Why might you ask? Behind the electrical panel, it was discovered that the old owners had covered up with electrical tape the main wire that HAD MELTED! The wire was brittle and it turned out the WHOLE BOX needed to be replaced in an emergency. Thank the Lord we discovered it! This is one example of the many problems that have been uncovered in this house, and this is why it’s so important not to hide your mistakes. When you discover something that’s wrong, fix it. Do something about it. If you don’t, the consequences will cost you more than you’re willing to pay and in the long run could literally cost you everything. In this example, our house could’ve burned down.
New House
After all the issues this house has had and after all the expensive corrections we’ve made, nothing really surprises us anymore when we discover something new. The best part about all this is we now have a brand new house! We can laugh about these things now, but when they were happening early on, we were not happy.
You may be able to get away with hiding your mistakes in the short term. Hiding your mistakes may be an easy fix and you may even think you’re getting away with doing the wrong thing. The problem is that eventually, these hidden things will always catch up to you! In the long run, it will always hurt more and cost more, rather than just correcting what’s wrong the first time.
“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.” – Luke 12:2
Dealing with mistakes
So what do we do with mistakes when we make them? Personally, I used to hate making mistakes. I would want no one to know about them and I would quickly try to move past them. In my mind, this is just as bad as covering them up. Why? Because you learn nothing from the mistake you just made when you do this. You are bound to repeat the same mistake over and over if you don’t spend time learning what happened, why it happened, and what you can do differently the next time so you don’t repeat the same pattern. When you make a mistake, it doesn’t feel good. We have to learn to own up to it, apologize to those we may have offended, and make it right. After the initial reparations have been made, the next step is to do the hard work of analyzing your mistake.
track your mistakes
Track your mistakes? Yes, that’s what I said. Get in the habit of keeping a mistake journal. I have a note on my phone where I date what I did and the outcome of what happened as a result of my choices, and then I begin to ask questions.
What could I have done differently? Why did I do what I did? What should I do next time when faced with similar situations? How can I keep from making the same mistake twice?
This is not fun. It doesn’t feel good either. At least in the moment. What happens as a result though is you begin to learn a lot about yourself and how to overcome obstacles that have been holding you back. You begin to learn to uncover deep-rooted biases within yourself and discover why you do what you do. After you’ve identified all these things, the real work of healing and growth can begin. You get to do better the next time.
building
Just like us having an almost completely new house after 4 years of fixing mistakes, as you learn to uncover your personal mistakes, stay in the moment to learn from them, and practice doing things right the next time, you discover that you also have built a new life. You build a new mentality, strengthen your character, and the relationships around you. To put this way of learning to practice is to build a new life full of wisdom. The risks of things burning down around you are minimized and the opportunity for success and a fulfilled life becomes a reality.
doing the hard work
No one likes to see the worst side of themselves. Sometimes it’s really hard to see these character flaws within us. If you can’t see past your own nose because you’ve spent so many years covering things up, find someone you trust that will be willing to tell you the truth about your character and decision-making. Many times these individuals can see what you cannot see because they have an outside perspective. You will have to invite them in and be willing to hear things that aren’t pleasant. You will have to do the hard work of seeing your mistakes in the mirror. When you do decide to take this step forward, new beginnings will come and you will actually start to enjoy the house that you’ve built for yourself. It will be one full of peace and prosperity because there will be no hidden traps waiting to burn your house down. You will have the freedom to build your life the way it was intended to be. Nothing will be holding you back from your growth!
“Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7 
About the Author
David Grimm and his wife, Kelly, own Chick-fil-A on University Avenue in West Des Moines, Iowa. David and Kelly have been in the restaurant business since 2011. They opened Chick-fil-A in 2015 and have grown the University Avenue location by more than 250% since they started. David is incredibly proud of his top-notch team, quality products, and most of all, the remarkable guest experience his team provides on a daily basis. Since 2015, his location has donated roughly $1 million to the community and team through food donations, support, and education assistance. David and Kelly love being able to live out their faith through their words and deeds every day. They have four children and live in West Des Moines, Iowa.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]